🔗 Share this article Cause of Child Sex Offender Singer's Prison Demise Disclosed Police Department The shamed rock star from Pontypridd was handed to 29 years in prison plus six years on extended licence Disgraced Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins died after being stabbed in the neck in an reported prison incident, an inquest has learned. Watkins, 48, succumbed on 11 October after being assaulted at HMP Wakefield, where he had been completing a 29-year prison sentence for child sex offences including the sexual assault of a infant. The inquest, opened earlier at Wakefield Coroner's Court, was adjourned pending the completion of an associated murder trial. Two individuals have been accused with murder in connection to Watkins' death while two other suspects, aged 23 and 39, arrested earlier this week on allegation of plot to murder were returned to prison as inquiries continued. Coroner Findings Coroner Oliver Longstaff said Watkins, who was referred to by his full name of Ian David Karslake Watkins during the short proceeding, had been pronounced dead at the West Yorkshire jail by an attending doctor and was officially recognized by a prison guard. Mr Longstaff said emergency services were called to the jail "following a report he had been attacked in the neck". The examiner said a post-mortem report gave the reason of death as an incision to the neck. 'Extreme Wickedness' In 2013 at Cardiff Crown Court, Watkins denied rape but confessed to the sexual assault and sexual assault of a child under 13. He pleaded guilty to 13 offences, including conspiring 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 influenced by fame, drugs, 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 stabbed in prison in 2023. Following that attack, he was taken to hospital 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 required to enter responses. Who Was Ian Watkins? Media Archives Watkins appearing in London in 2012 Watkins was once one of Wales' most recognisable artists - the frontman of the rock band Lostprophets. The band formed in Pontypridd in 1997, and distributed 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 separated immediately after Watkins was convicted in 2013. His previous bandmates 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 go back from that." The remaining members and American singer Geoff Rickly formed a new band, No Devotion, shortly thereafter.