Who is Ian Watkins and why is he in prison?
FORMER Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins is currently behind bars for a string of sickening child sex offences.
In August 2023, while serving his sentence, the paedophile rocker was taken to hospital after being stabbed in a prison attack.
Who is Ian Watkins?
Ian Watkins, born in Merthyr Tydfil in Wales in 1977, is the former frontman of the Welsh rock band the Lostprophets and is currently serving a prison sentence for 13 offences against children.
The vile ex-rocker was jailed in 2013 after a shocking trial for offences including the attempted rape of a baby.
He changed his plea to guilty at the beginning of the trial and admitted to trying to rape a fan’s baby and plotting to rape another infant.
Watkins filmed himself committing sex acts on a baby boy the day after Lostprophets final album Weapons was released.
The fiend claimed at Cardiff Crown Court he could not remember the sickening attacks because he was a “heavy user” of crystal meth at the time.
His two co-defendants, fans who were the mothers of victims, received sentences of 14 and 17 years in prison.
How long will Ian Watkins spend in prison?
As mentioned above, Watkins was jailed in 2013 for 35 years.
A year after being placed behind bars, Watkins was refused the right to appeal against his 35-year sentence.
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Lord Justice Christopher Pitchford said his offences were of “such shocking depravity” that the long sentence was called for.
He said the original trial judge had correctly gauged the seriousness of his offending and that the term was not “manifestly unjust”.
In 2019, Watkins had a further 10 months added to his sentence after he was convicted of having a banned mobile phone in prison, which he used to communicate with scores of warped female fans from his cell.
He will be eligible for parole after serving two-thirds of the prison term.
Did Ian Watkins get stabbed in prison?
In August 2023, Watkins was taken to hospital after he was taken hostage by three other lags, before being ‘’roughed up’’ and stabbed.
According to sources, the siege at HMP Wakefield only came to an end when a ‘’Tornado’’ team of specially-trained riot officers hurled stun grenades into the cell, where Watkins was being held.
One source said he had been stabbed in the neck and had been taken for life-saving treatment at Leeds General Infirmary.
The vile ex-rocker was said to be in a serious condition in hospital.
A police investigation is now underway, with the hostage-takers said to have been arrested.
A source said: “Watkins was attacked today by three pretty heavy-duty cons.
“They got hold of him on B-wing and dragged him into a cell where they roughed him up and barricaded themselves in.
“He was screaming and was obviously terrified and in fear of his life.
“They put the whole wing on lockdown and then sent in riot teams.
“Other prisoners heard three loud flash bangs which was when the officers got into the cell and threw grenades to stun the attackers and take them by surprise.
“It seems like the prison officers might have saved his life.
“Watkins is obviously unpopular because of who he is – and has been walking around with a huge target on his back.
“They got him on a Saturday, which is generally quieter with less staff on and it seems to have been planned.
“People heard that he was in a bad way when he came out but will probably survive.
“He was taken to Leeds and was still in hospital.”
A Prison Service spokesperson added: “Police are investigating an incident which took place on Saturday at HMP Wakefield.
"We are unable to comment further while the police investigate.”