Two prisoners have been arrested after paedophile rock star Ian Watkins was brutally murdered in Britain’s most notorious jail. The former Lostprophets singer allegedly had his throat slashed by an inmate in a frenzied knife attack at Wakefield Prison, where he was serving a 29-year sentence. Two men, aged 25 and 43, have been arrested and remain in custody, police said.
The Category A jail is branded ‘Monster Mansion’ and has been home to many of Britain’s worst criminals including mass murdering GP Harold Shipman, Britain’s most prolific rapist Reynhard Sinaga, four-time murderer Robert Maudsley, known as the Hannibal the cannibal, and depraved dad Mick Philpott who killed his six children in an arson attack. But one of the other most high-profile inmates inside was the British Nu-Metal superstar band’s frontman Watkins. The 48-year-old was ambushed and knifed in the neck by another prisoner in his cell on Saturday morning.
Watkins was jailed in 2013 for a string of child sex offences, including the attempted rape of a fan’s baby.
At his sentencing, he caused outrage when it was revealed that he had phoned a friend from his prison cell, referring to his vile crime flippantly as ‘mega lolz’.
It is understood that a fellow prisoner ambushed Watkins shortly after prisoners were unlocked from their cells yesterday morning.
The prison was placed under lockdown and emergency services were sent in, but Watkins was pronounced dead from blood loss at the scene.
The star’s former girlfriend, Joanne Mjadzelics, who bravely helped to expose his crimes, claimed a “weight had been lifted” from her and that the families of the paedophile’s victims would be “rejoicing”.
Ms Mjadzelics, who suffered from PTSD and self-harm after being exposed to Watkins’ vile behaviour, said: “This is a big shock, but I am surprised it has not happened sooner. I was always waiting for this phone call. I am surprised that it took this long.
“He was walking around with a target on his back since the first day he entered the prison.”
A prison source said: “Watkins has been killed in the most brutal way possible – and the attack was shocking, even by prison standards.
“He was targeted by another inmate who shanked him in the neck. Guards were nearby and raced to the scene quickly but there was nothing they could do, and they could not save him.”
Ms Mjadzelics added: “I have always been scared of him getting out of prison and tracking me down, so this is a relief. I had wanted him dead for a long time after everything he did.
“This is the second time someone has slashed his throat, but I am surprised someone had not been killed before now as he’s been in there for almost 13 years.
“The families of those poor victims will be rejoicing. He’s gone and they will be just as relieved as I am.”
The paedophile rocker, from Pontypridd in South Wales, was previously hospitalised in August 2023 after being stabbed by inmates in the prison.
He was jailed in December 2013 for a series of child sex offences. He admitted the attempted rape and sexual assault of a child under 13 but pleaded not guilty to rape.
He also admitted conspiring to rape a child, three counts of sexual assault involving children, seven involving taking, making or possessing indecent images of children and one of possessing an extreme pornographic image involving a sex act on an animal.
During sentencing, Mr Justice Royce said the case broke “new ground” and “plunged into new depths of depravity”.
Watkins’ two co-defendants, the mothers of children he abused, were jailed for 14 and 17 years.
The singer was arrested at his home following a drugs raid in September, 2012, when detectives were stunned to find a large number of computers, mobile phones and storage devices containing his filth.
A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said: “Detectives have launched a murder investigation after the death of a man in HMP Wakefield.
“Officers were called by staff at the prison at 9.39am on Saturday morning to reports of a serious assault on a prisoner.
“A man aged 48 was found with serious injuries. Despite medical attention he was pronounced dead at the scene.
“Two men aged 25 and 43 have been arrested on suspicion of murder and are currently in police custody.
“Detectives from the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team are investigating and inquiries remain ongoing.”
