Lostprophet’s singer Ian Watkins actual cause of prison death revealed

An inquest into Ian Watkins’ prison death was opened and adjourned at Wakefield coroner’s court on Friday, October 24, 2025, which revealed the actual cause of his death.

According to the BBC, Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins died on October 11, after an alleged attack at HMP Wakefield in England, where he was serving a 29-year sentence for child sexual offences, including the attempted rape of a baby.

The coroner Oliver Longstaff at Wakefield called paramedics to the prison, “following a report he had been stabbed in the neck in an alleged prison attack.”

As per the post-mortem report, the paedophile singer died after an incision to the neck, reports coroner Longstaff.

Watkins was pronounced dead at the West Yorkshire jail on 11 October by an attending doctor and was formally identified by a prison officer.

The inquiry opened earlier at Wakefield Coroner's Court was adjourned pending the completion of an associated murder trial.

Two men have been charged with murder in connection with Watkins' death. Two more suspects aged were arrested earlier this week alleging conspiracy to murder and were returned to prison as inquiries continued.

Ian Watkins was one of Wales' most recognisable musicians and the frontman of the rock band Lostprophets.

The band Lostprophets was formed in Pontypridd in 1997 and sold millions of albums worldwide, including one studio album that ranked number one in the UK.

The group was successful in the U.S. as well, reaching the top 40 albums at that time.

In 2013, the Welsh singer Ian Watkin was accused of 13 offences, including conspiring to rape a child.

Watkins denied rape but admitted the attempted rape and sexual assault of a child under 13 at Cardiff Crown Court in 2013.

Prosecutors at court had described him as a man corrupted by fame, drugs and power who had committed crimes "beyond imagination."

Mr Justice Royce said the case had broken "new ground" and "plunged into new depths of depravity."

The music group Lostprophets immediately disbanded after Watkins was convicted as a child sex offender.

His former bandmates were shocked and spoke publicly about their disgust.

"Even though I was completely done with him, I hoped it was all a mistake; he was innocent, he had to be,” said Bassist Stuart Richardson in 2014.

"The first time, we knew the band was done. You can't go back from that," Stuart added.

Soon after, the remaining bandmates and American singer Geoff Rickly formed a new band.

Furthermore, Watkins was stabbed in prison in 2023 and was taken to the hospital with injuries which were not life-threatening but later took his life.