🔗 Share this article Cause of Child Sex Offender Singer's Prison Death Revealed Police Department The shamed rock star from Pontypridd was sentenced to 29 years in prison plus six years on extended supervision Shamed Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins passed away after being stabbed in the throat in an reported prison incident, an investigation has heard. Watkins, 48, succumbed 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 sexual assault of a infant. The inquest, opened earlier at Wakefield Coroner's Court, was postponed pending the completion of an associated murder case. Two individuals have been accused with murder in relation to Watkins' death while two other men, aged 23 and 39, detained earlier this week on suspicion of plot to murder were sent back to prison as investigations continued. Coroner Statement Coroner Oliver Longstaff said Watkins, who was identified by his full name of Ian David Karslake Watkins during the brief hearing, had been declared deceased at the West Yorkshire jail by an attending doctor and was formally recognized by a prison guard. Mr Longstaff said paramedics were called to the jail "after a report he had been attacked in the throat". The coroner said a post-mortem report gave the reason of death as an wound to the neck. 'Extreme Wickedness' In 2013 at Cardiff Crown Court, Watkins refuted rape but admitted the sexual assault and sexual assault of a child under 13. He pleaded guilty to 13 offences, including plotting to rape a child, three counts of abuse involving children, seven involving creating, producing or possessing inappropriate images of children and one of having an shocking image involving a sex act on an animal. Prosecutors had described him as a man influenced by celebrity, substances, and power who had committed crimes "exceeding imagination." Mr Justice Royce said the case had broken "new ground" and "plunged into new depths of depravity". Watkins was also attacked in prison in 2023. After that incident, he was taken to medical facility with wounds which were not fatal. Rashid Gedel, 25, and Samuel Dodsworth, 43, were presented in court last week charged with his murder, but were not required to enter responses. Who Was Ian Watkins? Media Archives Watkins performing in London in 2012 Watkins was once one of Wales' most famous musicians - the lead singer of the rock band Lostprophets. The band started in Pontypridd in 1997, and distributed millions of albums across the world. They released five studio albums, one of which reached number one in the UK. The group also had some success in the US, with their second and third albums reaching the popular charts. They disbanded immediately after Watkins was found guilty in 2013. His previous group members spoke publicly 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 mistake, he was innocent, he had to be. "The first time, we knew the band was done. You can't go back from that." The other members and American singer Geoff Rickly formed a new band, No Devotion, soon after.