Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins, who was convicted of child abuse, is dead. He was murdered in prison by fellow inmates.
Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins, who was convicted of child abuse, has been murdered in prison. His throat was slit by fellow inmates at HMP Wakefield prison in West Yorkshire on October 11, 2025.
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Watkins died at the scene. The police arrested two suspects – a 43-year-old and a 25-year-old. The latter is said to have inflicted the fatal injury on Watkins. “Watkins was killed in the most brutal manner possible – and the attack was shocking, even by prison standards,” The Sun quoted a prison source as saying.
Protection money paid regularly
According to the paper, Ian Watkins was not held in solitary confinement at HMP Wakefield, known as the Monster Mansion because of the seriousness of the crimes committed by its inmates, but in the general corrections department. He is said to have regularly paid extortion money to other inmates to protect himself from attacks – according to “The Sun” including to the perpetrator, who decided to attack for unknown reasons despite payments that had apparently been made.
Ex-girlfriend is relieved
The child molester’s ex-girlfriend, Joanne Mjadzelics, who according to “RTL” played a key role in uncovering the musician’s crimes, expressed relief at his death. “This is a big shock, but I’m surprised it hasn’t happened sooner. I’ve been waiting for this call,” she told Britain’s Daily Mail. “He has been a target since his first day in prison.”
She was constantly afraid that her ex-boyfriend would be released and take revenge on her. “So I’m relieved now,” she said. “After everything he’s done, I’ve wanted him to die for a long time. I’m relieved, I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.” She is sure that the families of the victims are also happy: “He is gone, and they will be just as relieved as I am. Maybe a new chapter in my life will now begin.”
Former bandmate reacts
Lostprophets guitarist Lee Gaze also reacted to the death of his former bandmate. As the Daily Record reported, he responded simply: “Thanks for the kind words” to a fan who had wished him well on the occasion of the murder on X. Back in July, he posted on
At the time it was discussed whether the band might have known about their singer’s actions. Gaze said: “How would you know something like that? Who would tell something like that to five people who have eight children in total? You just wouldn’t do it because you would be killed on the spot.”
Previous attacks and conviction
The fatal Oct. 11 attack wasn’t the first time Watkins was attacked by fellow inmates. According to “RTL”, he was attacked by fellow prisoners in 2023 and was critically injured, but survived.
Watkins, 48, was sentenced to 29 years in prison in 2013 on 13 counts of child sexual abuse. Among other things, he confessed to attempting to rape an eleven-month-old baby. He also abused several children under the age of 13.