🔗 Share this article Cause of Paedophile Musician's Jail Death Revealed Police Department The disgraced rock star from Pontypridd was sentenced to 29 years in jail plus six years on extended supervision Disgraced Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins died after being attacked in the neck in an alleged prison attack, an investigation has heard. Watkins, 48, died on 11 October after being assaulted at HMP Wakefield, where he had been completing a 29-year prison sentence for child sex crimes including the sexual assault of a baby. The inquest, opened earlier at Wakefield Coroner's Court, was postponed pending the conclusion of an associated murder trial. Two men have been charged with murder in relation to Watkins' death while two other men, aged 23 and 39, detained earlier this week on suspicion of conspiracy to murder were returned to prison as investigations continued. Official Statement 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 jail by an attending doctor and was formally identified by a prison guard. Mr Longstaff said paramedics were summoned to the jail "following a report he had been attacked in the neck". The examiner said a autopsy report gave the reason of death as an incision to the neck. 'Extreme Wickedness' In 2013 at Cardiff Crown Court, Watkins refuted rape but confessed to the sexual assault and sexual assault of a child under 13. He pleaded guilty to 13 offences, including plotting to rape a child, three counts of abuse involving children, seven involving taking, producing or possessing indecent images of children and one of having an shocking image involving a sex act on an animal. Prosecutors had described him as a man influenced by fame, drugs, and power who had perpetrated crimes "beyond imagination." Mr Justice Royce said the case had broken "new ground" and "descended into new depths of wickedness". 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, appeared in court last week charged with his murder, but were not asked to enter responses. Who Was Ian Watkins? Media Archives Watkins performing in London in 2012 Watkins was once one of Wales' most famous artists - the frontman of the rock band Lostprophets. The band formed in Pontypridd in 1997, and distributed millions of albums across the world. They produced five studio albums, one of which reached number one in the UK. The group also had some success in the US, with their second and third albums attaining the popular charts. They disbanded promptly after Watkins was convicted in 2013. His previous group members spoke publicly about their shock and disgust. Bassist Stuart Richardson said in 2014: "Even though I was completely done 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, soon after.