🔗 Share this article Cause of Paedophile Musician's Jail Death Revealed Police Department The shamed rock star from Pontypridd was sentenced to 29 years in jail plus six years on extended licence Disgraced Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins died after being stabbed in the neck in an alleged prison attack, an investigation has learned. Watkins, forty-eight, succumbed on 11 October after being assaulted at HMP Wakefield, where he had been serving a 29-year jail sentence for child sex crimes including the sexual assault of a infant. The hearing, opened earlier at Wakefield Coroner's Court, was adjourned pending the conclusion of an associated murder case. Two men have been charged with murder in connection 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 continued. Coroner Findings Medical Examiner Oliver Longstaff said Watkins, who was referred to by his full name of Ian David Karslake Watkins during the brief proceeding, had been pronounced dead at the West Yorkshire prison by an on-call doctor and was officially recognized by a prison guard. Mr Longstaff said paramedics were summoned to the jail "following a report he had been stabbed in the throat". The coroner said a post-mortem report gave the reason of death as an wound to the neck. 'Depths of Depravity' In 2013 at Cardiff Crown Court, Watkins refuted rape but confessed to the attempted rape and sexual assault of a child under 13. He pleaded guilty to 13 crimes, including plotting to rape a child, three counts of sexual assault involving children, seven involving taking, making or holding inappropriate images of children and one of possessing an extreme image involving a sex act on an animal. Prosecutors had portrayed him as a man corrupted by fame, substances, and influence who had perpetrated crimes "exceeding imagination." Mr Justice Royce said the case had broken "new ground" and "descended into new depths of wickedness". Watkins was also stabbed in prison in 2023. After that incident, he was taken to medical facility with wounds 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 responses. Background of Ian Watkins? Media Archives Watkins performing in London in 2012 Watkins was once one of Wales' most recognisable artists - the frontman of the rock band Lostprophets. The band started in Pontypridd in 1997, and sold millions of albums across the world. They released five studio albums, one of which achieved number one in the UK. The group also had some achievement in the US, with their second and third albums attaining the popular charts. They disbanded immediately after Watkins was convicted in 2013. His former bandmates spoke openly about their shock and revulsion. Bassist Stuart Richardson said in 2014: "Although I was completely done with him, I hoped it was all a mistake, he was innocent, he had to be. "The first time, we knew the band was finished. You can't go back from that." The other bandmates and American singer Geoff Rickly created a new band, No Devotion, shortly thereafter.