🔗 Share this article Cause of Child Sex Offender Singer's Jail Demise Disclosed Police Department The disgraced rock star from Pontypridd was sentenced to 29 years in prison plus six years on extended supervision Disgraced Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins died after being attacked in the neck in an alleged prison incident, an inquest 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 offences including the attempted rape of a baby. The hearing, opened earlier at Wakefield Coroner's Court, was adjourned pending the conclusion of an related murder trial. Two men have been accused with murder in relation to Watkins' death while two other suspects, aged 23 and 39, detained earlier this week on allegation of conspiracy to murder were returned to prison as inquiries continued. Coroner Statement Coroner 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 emergency services were summoned to the jail "after a report he had been attacked in the neck". The examiner said a autopsy report gave the reason of death as an wound to the neck. 'Depths of Depravity' In 2013 at Cardiff Crown Court, Watkins denied rape but confessed to the sexual assault and sexual assault of a child under 13. He admitted 13 offences, including plotting to rape a child, three counts of abuse involving children, seven involving taking, making or holding indecent images of children and one of possessing an shocking image involving a sex act on an animal. Legal authorities had described him as a man corrupted by fame, substances, and power who had perpetrated crimes "exceeding imagination." Mr Justice Royce said the case had broken "unprecedented territory" and "plunged into new depths of depravity". Watkins was also attacked in prison in 2023. Following that incident, he was taken to hospital with injuries which were not fatal. Rashid Gedel, 25, and Samuel Dodsworth, 43, were presented in court last week accused with his murder, but were not required to enter pleas. Who Was Ian Watkins? Media Archives Watkins appearing in London in 2012 Watkins was formerly one of Wales' most famous musicians - the lead singer of the rock band Lostprophets. The band formed in Pontypridd in 1997, and sold millions of albums across the world. They produced five studio albums, one of which achieved number one in the UK. The group also had some success in the US, with their second and third albums attaining the top-40. They disbanded promptly after Watkins was found guilty in 2013. His previous group members spoke openly about their surprise and revulsion. Bassist Stuart Richardson said in 2014: "Even though I was completely finished with him, I hoped it was all a mistake, he was not guilty, he had to be. "The first time, we knew the band was done. You can't return from that." The other bandmates and American singer Geoff Rickly formed a new band, No Devotion, shortly thereafter.