🔗 Share this article Cause of Paedophile Musician's Prison Demise Revealed Police Department The disgraced rock star from Pontypridd was sentenced to 29 years in prison plus six years on extended licence Shamed Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins died after being attacked in the neck in an alleged prison attack, an inquest has heard. Watkins, forty-eight, succumbed on 11 October after being targeted at HMP Wakefield, where he had been completing a 29-year prison sentence for child sex offences including the sexual assault of a baby. The hearing, opened earlier at Wakefield Coroner's Court, was adjourned pending the completion of an associated murder trial. Two individuals have been charged with murder in relation to Watkins' death while two other suspects, aged 23 and 39, arrested earlier this week on allegation of plot to murder were sent back 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 short hearing, had been declared deceased at the West Yorkshire prison by an attending doctor and was officially recognized by a prison officer. Mr Longstaff said paramedics were summoned to the jail "after a report he had been attacked in the neck". The coroner said a post-mortem report gave the cause of death as an wound to the throat. 'Depths of Depravity' In 2013 at Cardiff Crown Court, Watkins denied rape but confessed to the attempted rape and abuse of a child under 13. He admitted 13 crimes, including plotting to rape a child, three counts of abuse involving children, seven involving taking, producing or holding inappropriate images of children and one of having an extreme image involving a sex act on an animal. Legal authorities had described him as a man influenced by fame, substances, and influence who had perpetrated crimes "beyond imagination." Mr Justice Royce said the case had established "unprecedented territory" and "descended into new depths of depravity". Watkins was also attacked in prison in 2023. After that attack, 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 asked to enter pleas. Who Was Ian Watkins? Media Archives Watkins appearing in London in 2012 Watkins was once one of Wales' most recognisable artists - the lead singer of the rock band Lostprophets. The band formed in Pontypridd in 1997, and sold millions of albums around 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 separated immediately after Watkins was convicted in 2013. His previous group members spoke publicly about their surprise and revulsion. Bassist Stuart Richardson said in 2014: "Although I was completely done with him, I wished it was all a error, 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.