Disgraced Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins, who was a convicted paedophile, was killed by two men in prison this weekend while carrying out his prison sentence
Following the murder of convicted paedophile Ian Watkins, his former bandmate’s scathing remark about him has resurfaced. Watkins was killed while behind bars this weekend while serving time in prison for a string of child sex offences.
He was serving 29 years for his crimes, including the attempted rape of a baby. Sentencing Mr Justice Royce said the case broke ‘new ground’ and ‘plunged into new depths of depravity’.
In January this year, a fan reached out to Watkins’ former bandmate Lee Gaze on social media and told the musician they’d once met the paedophile at Kerrang Radio.
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Lee responded: “Sorry that c*** ruined everything [laughing emoji] may he rot for eternity.” The fan replied: “I’m more sorry for you guys! At least it was fun while it lasted.”
Watkins was attacked with a knife by another inmate in HMP Wakefield on Saturday morning. Emergency services were sent to the prison in West Yorkshire but Watkins was pronounced dead at the scene.
A Prison Service spokesperson said: “We are aware of an incident at HMP Wakefield which took place this morning. We are unable to comment further while the police investigate.”
A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said: “At 9.39am this morning, police were called by staff at HMP Wakefield reporting an assault on a prisoner. Emergency services attended and the man was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later.
“Detectives from the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team are investigating and inquiries remain ongoing at the scene.” The disgraced singer was arrested following the execution of a drugs warrant at his Pontypridd home on September 21, 2012 when a large number of computers, mobile phones and storage devices were seized.
Analysis of the equipment uncovered Watkins’ depraved behaviour. In 2019 he was jailed for 10 months on top of the sentence he was serving for child sex offences after he was found guilty of possessing a mobile phone in prison.
Watkins claimed two inmates forced him to hold on to the phone so they could contact women who sent him fan mail in order to use them as a “revenue stream”.
As well as Watkins and Lee, rock band Lostprophets also featured Mike Chiplin, Stuart Richardson, Jamie Oliver and Luke Johnson but were forced to disband in 2013 after Ian’s crimes came to light “after nearly a year of coming to terms with our heartache”.
On November 30 of that year, the group released a lengthy statement in response to Watkins pleading guilty to attempted rape and sexual assault of a child under 13.
They stated that they were “heartbroken, angry and disgusted” and they had been unaware of his crimes. They further stated it had become a “constant, miserable challenge” and they had “never imagined him capable of behaviour of the type he has now admitted.”
After he was sentenced, the BBC banned the entire Lostprophets back catalogue being played on their stations. On April 25, 2014, it was confirmed by Thursday frontman Geoff Rickly that he would be working with the remaining band members on their new project, joining his label, Collect Records.
He also joined the group as a vocalist and the new band was called No Devotion, with them subsequently releasing their first two singles on July 1, 2014.
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