Paedophile musician Ian Watkins was killed at HMP Wakefield after refusing to pay protection money to fellow inmates. The former Lostprophets frontman was found severely injured in his cell on Saturday morning at approximately 9:39am and pronounced dead at the scene.
Two men aged 25 and 43 have been arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in police custody. Watkins died from blood loss after having his throat slit by a fellow inmate in the brutal attack.
Protection money demands
The attack occurred shortly after morning unlock when prisoners were released from their cells. A prison insider revealed that Watkins had previously been assaulted in 2023 for refusing to pay protection money.
"There was no prior beef between them, there was no prior knowledge between them," the source said. "It looks like it was because he was who he was or would not pay any cash up."
The 25-year-old suspect was himself serving time for murder and had recently joined Watkins' wing. Sources suggest protection money demands were ongoing, with Watkins "getting rinsed" before the killer turned on him.
Prison violence concerns
The deadly assault occurred just weeks after inspectors raised concerns about escalating violence towards sex offenders in Watkins' wing. A report published less than a fortnight ago revealed that violence in the facility had "increased markedly".
The chief inspector of prisons stated: "Many prisoners told us they felt unsafe, particularly older men convicted of sexual offences who increasingly shared the prison with a growing cohort of younger prisoners."
West Yorkshire Police confirmed that detectives from the homicide and major inquiry team are investigating the assault. A Prison Service spokesperson acknowledged the incident but stated they were "unable to comment further while the police investigate".
Whistleblower reaction
Watkins' former girlfriend Jo Mjadzelics (48), who first exposed his crimes, expressed surprise that inmates took so long to kill him. "I'm only surprised it's taken nearly 13 years to happen, it was crazy how he was protected this long," she told The Mirror.
Mjadzelics repeatedly warned police about Watkins' predatory behaviour between 2008 and 2012, but her concerns were dismissed. An Independent Police Complaints Commission report later found South Wales Police missed 11 separate opportunities to arrest him.
Criminal conviction
Watkins was serving a 29-year sentence for numerous sexual offences, including attempted rape of an 11-month-old baby. He was eventually arrested in September 2012 when police searched his Pontypridd home under a drugs warrant.
The Welsh musician achieved global success with Lostprophets, who sold millions of albums and scored a UK number one. The band formed in 1997 and released five studio albums before dissolving following his conviction in 2013.
Sources used: "The Mirror", "Yorkshire", "Metro", "West Yorkshire Police", "Prison Service", "Independent Police Complaints Commission"
Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
