FORMER LOSTPROPHETS SINGER Ian Watkins has died after being attacked in Wakefield prison, West Yorkshire, while serving a 29-year sentence for child sex offences, sources have confirmed to the PA news agency.

A statement from 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.”

He was attacked with a knife by another inmate this morning, sources told PA. Emergency services were sent to the prison in West Yorkshire but Watkins was pronounced dead at the scene.

Watkins, who was from Wales, was sentenced to 35 years in 2013 for a number of serious child sexual abuse offences, including the attempted rape of an 11-month-old baby. 

He was described as posing a serious risk to the public, especially women with young children. 

Watkins admitted the attempted rape and sexual assault of a child under 13 but pleaded not guilty to rape.

He also admitted conspiring to rape a child, three counts of sexual assault involving children, seven involving taking, making or possessing indecent images of children and one of possessing an extreme pornographic image involving a sex act on an animal.

His two co-defendants were the mothers of the children he had abused. They were jailed for 14 years and 17 years respectively. 

Watkins was stabbed by a fellow inmate at the same prison in August 2023.

Includes reporting by Press Association