A former inmate who was held at HMP Wakefield alongside Ian Watkins, the convicted pedophile and Lostprophets singer, described how Watkins was essentially a “dead man walking” from the moment he arrived. Watkins died on October 11, 2025, after being attacked in his cell at this notorious maximum-security prison in northern England.
According to prison sources, Watkins had his throat cut in an assault by fellow inmates shortly after prisoners were unlocked from their cells. Despite first responders’ efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Watkins’ sex crimes shocked even other offenders, as they involved the attempted rape of a baby and numerous other child abuse charges.
One prison officer anonymously told the Daily Mail about the harsh environment at Wakefield, where sex offenders and violent criminals live together. Unlike many prisoners whose crimes remain private, Watkins’ offenses were openly known, which made him a target. He had been attacked before and suffered abuse daily.
Watkins was serving a 35-year sentence, having spent 12 years behind bars before his death. Two inmates have been charged with his murder, and reports claim that the prison population celebrated once word spread of his killing. The hatred for Watkins was evident due to the nature of his crimes.
