🔗 Share this article Reason of Paedophile Musician's Prison Demise Disclosed Police Department The shamed rock star from Pontypridd was handed to 29 years in prison plus six years on extended licence Shamed Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins died after being stabbed in the neck in an reported prison attack, an investigation has learned. Watkins, 48, died on 11 October after being targeted at HMP Wakefield, where he had been completing a 29-year prison sentence for child sex crimes including the sexual assault of a baby. The hearing, opened earlier at Wakefield Coroner's Court, was postponed pending the conclusion of an related murder case. Two individuals have been charged with murder in relation to Watkins' death while two other suspects, aged 23 and 39, arrested earlier this week on suspicion of conspiracy to murder were returned to prison as investigations continued. Coroner Statement Coroner Oliver Longstaff said Watkins, who was referred to by his full name of Ian David Karslake Watkins during the brief proceeding, had been pronounced dead at the West Yorkshire jail by an attending doctor and was formally identified by a prison officer. Mr Longstaff said emergency services were called to the jail "after a report he had been stabbed in the throat". The examiner said a autopsy report gave the cause of death as an incision to the neck. 'Extreme Wickedness' In 2013 at Cardiff Crown Court, Watkins denied rape but confessed to the attempted rape and abuse of a child under 13. He pleaded guilty to 13 offences, including conspiring to rape a child, three counts of abuse involving children, seven involving taking, producing or possessing inappropriate images of children and one of having an shocking image involving a sex act on an animal. Legal authorities had described him as a man influenced by celebrity, drugs, and influence who had committed crimes "beyond imagination." Mr Justice Royce said the case had broken "new ground" and "descended into new levels of depravity". Watkins was also stabbed in prison in 2023. After that attack, he was taken to hospital with injuries which were not life-threatening. Rashid Gedel, 25, and Samuel Dodsworth, 43, were presented in court last week charged with his murder, but were not required to enter pleas. Who Was Ian Watkins? Media Archives Watkins performing in London in 2012 Watkins was formerly one of Wales' most recognisable musicians - the lead singer of the rock band Lostprophets. The band formed in Pontypridd in 1997, and sold millions of albums around the world. They produced five studio albums, one of which reached number one in the UK. The group also had some success in the US, with their second and third albums attaining the top-40. They separated promptly after Watkins was convicted in 2013. His former group members spoke publicly about their shock and revulsion. Bassist Stuart Richardson said in 2014: "Although I was completely done with him, I hoped it was all a mistake, he was innocent, he had to be. "The first time, we knew the band was done. You can't go back from that." The remaining bandmates and American singer Geoff Rickly created a new band, No Devotion, soon after.