Lostprophets singer convicted of a string of child sex crimes is killed in jail

Ian Watkins, 48, said to have died having being knifed by a fellow prisoner in HMP Wakefield after surviving earlier attempt

- Vanessa Thorpe & John Simpson

ABOVE Watkins pictured on stage in 2004.

Ian Watkins, lead singer of the Welsh rock band Lostprophets, has been killed in a violent attack in jail.

The 48-year-old performer from Pontypridd was serving a 29-year sentence at HMP Wakefield for child sex offences and had survived a similar assault after being held hostage by fellow prisoners in the same prison in the summer of 2023.

West Yorkshire Police said they were called to the prison yesterday morning to investigate an assault on a prisoner, but the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. He is reported to have been attacked with a knife by another inmate.

Watkins was jailed almost 12 years ago for a string of child sex offences, including the attempted rape of a baby.