🔗 Share this article Cause of Child Sex Offender Singer's Jail Death 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 passed away after being stabbed in the neck in an reported prison incident, an investigation has heard. Watkins, forty-eight, died 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 attempted rape of a infant. The inquest, opened earlier at Wakefield Coroner's Court, was adjourned pending the conclusion of an associated murder case. Two men have been charged with murder in relation to Watkins' death while two other men, aged 23 and 39, arrested earlier this week on allegation of conspiracy to murder were sent back to prison as inquiries proceeded. Official Statement Coroner Oliver Longstaff said Watkins, who was identified by his full name of Ian David Karslake Watkins during the short proceeding, had been declared deceased at the West Yorkshire prison by an on-call doctor and was officially identified by a prison officer. Mr Longstaff said paramedics were summoned to the jail "following a report he had been stabbed in the neck". The coroner said a post-mortem report gave the reason of death as an wound to the neck. 'Depths of Depravity' In 2013 at Cardiff Crown Court, Watkins refuted rape but admitted the sexual assault and sexual assault of a child under 13. He admitted 13 crimes, including plotting to rape a child, three counts of abuse involving children, seven involving creating, producing or possessing indecent images of children and one of possessing an extreme image involving a sex act on an creature. Prosecutors had portrayed him as a man corrupted by celebrity, drugs, and influence who had committed crimes "beyond imagination." Mr Justice Royce said the case had broken "new ground" and "descended into new levels of depravity". Watkins was also attacked in prison in 2023. Following 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 accused with his murder, but were not required to enter pleas. Background of Ian Watkins? Media Archives Watkins performing in London in 2012 Watkins was formerly one of Wales' most recognisable musicians - the lead singer 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 reaching the top-40. They disbanded 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 innocent, 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 created a new band, No Devotion, soon after.