🔗 Share this article Reason of Child Sex Offender Musician's Jail Demise Revealed Police Department The disgraced rock star from Pontypridd was sentenced to 29 years in jail plus six years on extended supervision Shamed Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins passed away after being stabbed in the neck in an reported prison incident, an inquest has heard. 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 attempted rape of a infant. The inquest, opened earlier at Wakefield Coroner's Court, was adjourned pending the conclusion of an related murder trial. Two individuals have been charged with murder in relation to Watkins' death while two other suspects, aged 23 and 39, detained earlier this week on suspicion of conspiracy to murder were returned to prison as inquiries proceeded. Official Statement Coroner Oliver Longstaff said Watkins, who was referred to by his full name of Ian David Karslake Watkins during the brief hearing, had been declared deceased at the West Yorkshire prison by an on-call doctor and was officially recognized by a prison guard. Mr Longstaff said emergency services were called to the jail "after a report he had been stabbed in the neck". The examiner said a post-mortem report gave the cause of death as an wound to the neck. 'Extreme Wickedness' In 2013 at Cardiff Crown Court, Watkins refuted rape but confessed to the sexual assault and abuse of a child under 13. He admitted 13 offences, including conspiring to rape a child, three counts of sexual assault involving children, seven involving taking, making or possessing inappropriate images of children and one of possessing an extreme image involving a sex act on an animal. Legal authorities had described him as a man influenced by fame, drugs, and power who had committed crimes "beyond imagination." Mr Justice Royce said the case had established "unprecedented territory" and "plunged into new depths of wickedness". 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 accused with his murder, but were not asked to enter pleas. Who Was Ian Watkins? Media Archives Watkins appearing in London in 2012 Watkins was formerly one of Wales' most famous musicians - the lead singer of the rock band Lostprophets. The band started in Pontypridd in 1997, and sold millions of albums across the world. They produced five studio albums, one of which achieved number one in the UK. The group also had some success in the US, with their second and third albums reaching the top-40. They disbanded immediately after Watkins was found guilty in 2013. His former bandmates spoke openly about their surprise and revulsion. Bassist Stuart Richardson said in 2014: "Even though I was completely done with him, I wished it was all a error, he was not guilty, he had to be. "The first time, we knew the band was done. You can't go back from that." The remaining members and American singer Geoff Rickly created a new band, No Devotion, shortly thereafter.