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Ian Watkins (Lostprophets singer)

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Ian Watkins
Watkins with Lostprophets in 2010
Born
Ian David Karslake Watkins

(1977-07-30)30 July 1977
Merthyr Tydfil, Wales
Died11 October 2025(2025-10-11) (aged 48)
HM Prison Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England
Cause of deathStab wounds
Convictions
Criminal penalty29 years and 10 months imprisonment, plus 6 years on extended licence
Date apprehended
17 December 2012
Musical career
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
InstrumentVocals
Years active1991–2012
Formerly ofLostprophets

Ian David Karslake Watkins (30 July 1977 – 11 October 2025) was a Welsh singer and child sex offender. He was the lead singer and frontman of the rock band Lostprophets from 1997 to 2012. Watkins founded Lostprophets with Lee Gaze in 1997, having previously been in a band called Fleshbind together. Lostprophets released five studio albums, four of which made the top 10 of the UK Albums Chart, including Liberation Transmission which went to number 1 in 2006.[1]

Watkins was sentenced to 29 years' imprisonment in 2013 for multiple sexual offences. He pleaded guilty to sexual assault of children, including those as young as infants, and the possession of child and animal sexual abuse material. His bandmates disbanded Lostprophets shortly before his trial. Watkins died after being attacked while imprisoned at HM Prison Wakefield on 11 October 2025. West Yorkshire Police have charged two men with Watkins's murder.

Early life

Ian David Karslake Watkins was born on 30 July 1977 in Merthyr Tydfil.[2] He later moved to Pontypridd, where he attended Hawthorn High School with future Lostprophets bandmate Mike Lewis.[2] He gained a first-class honours degree in graphic design from the University of Wales, Newport.[3] Watkins grew up listening to mostly American rock and metal musical artists, and in 2004 mentioned the band Faith No More as his biggest influence.[4]

Career

As teenagers, Lewis's and Watkins' mutual enjoyment of rock and metal music strengthened their friendship. In 1991, they formed Aftermath, a thrash metal band that played in a shed in Watkins's garden.[2] Having abandoned Aftermath, which made two live appearances in its lifespan of two years, Watkins and Lee Gaze decided to form a new band called Fleshbind, based on their American hardcore punk influences, for whom Watkins played drums. The band played several shows, including one supporting Feeder in London, but the group disbanded after its singer left. After Watkins' request to move to vocals in Fleshbind was denied, he and Gaze left and formed "Lozt Prophetz" as a more "back to basics" band.[2]

Watkins was concurrently the drummer for a hardcore band called Public Disturbance from 1995, which also featured Lewis.[3] Lozt Prophetz made their live debut in May 1997 alongside Public Disturbance, with Watkins as the lead vocalist. In 1998, Watkins left Public Disturbance to concentrate on the newly named Lostprophets.[5]

In a 2002 interview, following the release of Lostprophets' debut album The Fake Sound of Progress, Watkins cited the band's concert at the Cardiff Coal Exchange in December 2001 as a crucial moment in their timeline, stating: "It was incredible. Everybody who's been around on the scene knows who we are and it was nice to have that kind of recognition."[5]

In 2003, Watkins was featured on the Hoobastank song "Out of Control" along with Richard James Oliver, who was by then a member of Lostprophets.[6]

Watkins performing with Lostprophets at Leeds Festival in 2007

In 2006, speaking at the Welsh Pop Factory awards ceremony in Cardiff following Lostprophets winning three awards, including "Best Welsh Band", Watkins stated that "to win best band in the best country in the world is wicked".[7]

On New Year's Eve 2008, Watkins took part in a concert for Kidney Wales Foundation and stated that his reasons for being involved were as a result of his mother needing a kidney transplant: "Having that direct experience is why I wanted to get more involved with Kidney Wales and organise a fundraising concert on New Year's Eve."[8]

Watkins was also featured on the Blackout's song "It's High Tide Baby!" from their debut studio album We Are the Dynamite (2007), and accompanied them on tour.[9]

Lostprophets released five studio albums: The Fake Sound of Progress (2000), Start Something (2004), Liberation Transmission (2006), The Betrayed (2010), and Weapons (2012). They toured extensively in Europe and the United States,[10] playing shows such as the Reading and Leeds Festivals in 2007.[11]

As time went on, Watkins distanced himself from the other band members, spending much of his time at his residence in Wales during their off-time, while the rest of his bandmates resided in Los Angeles.[12] Tension grew between him and the band. Bassist Stuart Richardson recalled during a December 2019 interview that the tensions escalated into an altercation with Watkins after he failed to report for a show.[13]

On 1 October 2013, shortly before Watkins' trial, Lostprophets announced that they were disbanding "after nearly a year of coming to terms with our heartache". The post was signed by all members of the band except Watkins.[14][better source needed]

Sexual offences and other criminal activity

Watkins' abuse and misconduct with children was reported as early as 2008 to South Wales Police, though the authorities repeatedly failed to act upon any of the leads.[15] This included both sexual abuse and giving drugs to children (including cocaine).[15] Watkins' former bandmates said they were unaware of his conduct with children, as his drug use had begun to cause heavy strain on his relationship with them. Watkins had requested his own private dressing room away from the other five band members, where much of his abuse of children allegedly took place. Watkins had also chosen to minimise personal contact with most of his bandmates.[12]

Joanne Mjadzelics, an ex-girlfriend of Watkins, recalled him possessing graphic images involving minors and drug paraphernalia as early as 2010. Appalled by the content, Mjadzelics made multiple complaints to South Wales Police, though little action was taken at the time. She was one of six people who had spoken to the police regarding Watkins' conduct from 2008 to 2011. In 2010, an Australian woman accused Watkins of assaulting her child, though the allegations were not investigated any further by authorities. During the recording of the band's fourth studio album, The Betrayed, in 2009, Mjadzelics was made aware by Watkins that he was abusing a two-year-old child in California whilst the band was recording in Los Angeles. Mjadzelics contacted the child's parents, who had also reported him to Welsh authorities (child sex offences committed by British nationals are crimes of extraterritorial jurisdiction in England and Wales), though again, no further action was taken to investigate the matter.[15][16][17]

Arrest and conviction

Watkins was first apprehended in June 2012 in connection with various drug charges, and he was granted bail shortly afterwards. Watkins had already attracted attention from Welsh law enforcement[18] after several friends reported that he was regularly smuggling cocaine and methamphetamine from Los Angeles.[19] He was arrested again on 4 November, for drug possession, and a separate allegation that he possessed an obscene image of a child.[20] He pleaded not guilty to the charges of possessing explicit material, shortly after being granted bail yet again. Watkins performed his final show with Lostprophets on 14 November 2012 in Newport, Wales. He was arrested for a third time on 17 December 2012 on another drug possession charge. South Wales Police immediately conducted a search of his home and computer in connection to their prior investigation. During the search, officers discovered numerous indecent images of children stored on his computer.[15][21]

On 19 December 2012, Watkins was charged at Cardiff magistrates court with conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a one-year-old girl and possession and/or distribution of indecent images of children and "extreme animal pornography". He was remanded in custody, as were two females who stood co-accused. Watkins' barrister said Watkins would deny the accusations.[22][23][24] On 31 December, he appeared at Cardiff Crown Court via video link from HM Prison Parc in Bridgend, and was remanded in custody until 11 March 2013.[25] The case was adjourned until May, with the trial date set for 15 July.[26] At a hearing on 3 June, he denied all charges via a video link.[27]

On 6 June 2013, it was announced that the trial would start on 25 November and was expected to last a month. A previous application for the court venue to be moved outside Wales was denied.[28] On 26 November, Watkins pleaded guilty to attempted rape and sexual assault of a child under 13, but not guilty to rape. This was accepted by the prosecution. He further pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault involving children; six counts of taking, making, or possessing indecent images of children; and one count of possessing an extreme pornographic image involving a sex act on an animal.[29] His victims included a baby boy,[30][31] and he sent a text message to the mother of one victim that said, "If you belong to me, so does your baby."[29] The South Wales Police investigation into Watkins, codenamed "Operation Globe", required the co-operation of GCHQ to decrypt a hidden drive on his laptop, which was found to contain video evidence of his abuses.[30] Investigators later bypassed the encrypted password to Watkins' laptop, noting that it read "I FUK KIDZ".[32] On 27 November, the day after his guilty plea had been accepted by the prosecution, Watkins referred to his sex offences as "mega lolz" in a recorded phone call to a female fan made from HM Prison Parc.[33]

A sentencing hearing was held at Cardiff on 18 December 2013. In mitigation, Watkins's barrister, Sally O'Neill QC, said that Watkins had no recollection of the case involving the attempted rape, but had "belatedly realised the gravity of what happened" after having developed an "obsession" with videoing himself having sex.[31] Justice John Royce sentenced Watkins to 29 years in prison, with eligibility to apply for parole in 2031 after serving two-thirds of his prison term, followed by six years of supervised release. His two co-defendants, the mothers of his victims, respectively received sentences of 14 and 17 years imprisonment.[34] The judge said the case "plunged into new depths of depravity", stating that Watkins had a "corrupting influence" and had shown a "complete lack of remorse".[31] A senior investigating officer on the case described Watkins as a "committed, organised paedophile" and "potentially the most dangerous sex offender" he had ever seen.[35] In July 2014 Watkins' appeal to reduce the length of his jail term was rejected. Appeal judges said his offences were "of such shocking depravity that they demanded a lengthy prison sentence."[36]

Aftermath

An Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation report published in summer 2016 said that three detectives from the South Wales force should face disciplinary action after they failed to act on earlier allegations of abuse by Watkins from 2008 onward.[37][38]

A further IPCC report, published in August 2017, found that police had failed a number of times from 2008 to 2012 to act on reports of Watkins' behaviour, quoting a detective who said that taking action against Watkins would draw "huge publicity" and that "due to his fame" Watkins had "a number of fans and ex-girlfriends making allegations that when investigated are false".[15][32][39] The report concluded:[30]

The consequence of the force's failings was arguably that a predatory paedophile offended over an extended period of time. The evidence obtained in this investigation suggests that South Wales Police were faced with a litany of reports about his behaviour, yet in some instances did not carry out even rudimentary investigation, made errors and omissions and missed opportunities to bring him to justice earlier than he ultimately was.

South Wales Police Assistant Chief Constable Jeremy Vaughan said his force "entirely accepts and regrets" the findings of the report.[39]

Imprisonment

Watkins was transferred from HM Prison Parc, where he had been incarcerated while on remand, to HM Prison Wakefield to begin serving his sentence.[40] In order to be closer to his mother after she had a kidney transplant, he was transferred to HM Prison Long Lartin on 25 January 2014.[41]

On 9 October 2017, Watkins was accused of grooming a two-year-old girl's mother from prison through a series of letters. In response to the report, a spokesman for the NSPCC said: "This is an absolute shambles. We're sickened. It's utterly bewildering that he could carry on grooming. It shows contempt for children he abused, and raises serious questions about supervision."[42] By March 2018, he was back at HM Prison Wakefield.[43]

Possession of mobile phone

In March 2018, Watkins was found with a mobile phone.[43][44] He was accused of using the phone to maintain contact with a girlfriend outside the prison, but denied the charge,[45] claiming it did not belong to him but to two inmates who forced him to hide it for them;[46] he refused to give names, citing fear of violent retribution.[46] A charger for the phone was also found in his cell.[45] Watkins claimed he still received fan mail from Lostprophets fans and that the men wanted him to help them take advantage of the women writing in as a "revenue stream".[46] After a five-day trial at Leeds Crown Court in August 2019, he was convicted and sentenced to a further ten months in prison.[43][44][45]

Hostage incident and stabbing

On the morning of 5 August 2023, Watkins was taken hostage by three inmates at HM Prison Wakefield and stabbed, before being freed by prison officers six hours later.[47][48] Police later confirmed his injuries were not life-threatening.[49]

Death

On the morning of 11 October 2025, Watkins died aged 48 after being stabbed at HM Prison Wakefield.[50][51] He was pronounced dead at the scene after the incident had been reported by prison staff.[52] West Yorkshire Police charged two men, aged 25 and 43, with murder.[53]

A September 2025 report had found that violence in the prison had "increased markedly".[52][54]

Discography

Public Disturbance

  • 4-Way Tie Up (1997)
  • UKHC Compilation (1997)
  • Victim of Circumstance (1998)

Lostprophets

Main article: Lostprophets discography

References

  1. ^ "Lostprophets". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d "Ian Watkins". BBC News, Wales. Archived from the original on 6 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2007.
  3. ^ a b Bezer, Terry (22 September 2010). "Lostprophets' Ian Watkins Talks About Reading, A New Album And 'That Photo'". Metal Hammer. Archived from the original on 24 September 2010. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
  4. ^ "Herald-Journal". Herald-Journal – via Google Books.
  5. ^ a b "Lost profits for Lostprophets". South Wales Argus. 8 March 2002.
  6. ^ "Hoobastank Heist a Pawn Shop in a Dark new Video". MTV. Archived from the original on 12 August 2022.
  7. ^ "Lostprophets Dominate Another Awards Ceremony". Werk.re. 5 December 2006.
  8. ^ Brindley, Madeleine (29 October 2008). "Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins to stage show for Kidney Wales Foundation". Wales Online. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2009.
  9. ^ We Are the Dynamite (booklet). The Blackout. Fierce Panda Records. 2007. NONG52CD.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ "Lostprophets forge ahead with fall tour". Ultimate guitar. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 29 August 2007.
  11. ^ "Artist/ Line up: Lostprophets". BBC News. Archived from the original on 25 November 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2007.
  12. ^ a b Annunziata, Chris (6 December 2019). "Stuart Richardson talks about life after Lostprophets and beating up Ian Watkins". Metal Insider. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  13. ^ Childers, Chad (6 December 2019). "Ex Lostprophets Bassist Recalls Fistfight with Ian Watkins at Warped Tour". Loudwire. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  14. ^ "To our fans". Facebook. 1 October 2013. Archived from the original on 12 December 1998.
  15. ^ a b c d e Morris, Steven (25 August 2017). "Police missed chances to stop paedophile Ian Watkins, says report". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  16. ^ "Joanne Mjadzelics: Ian Watkins' ex cleared over abuse images". BBC News. 14 January 2015. Archived from the original on 11 May 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  17. ^ Joanne Mjadzelics. "The Valleys Boy Who Became a Monster". Week In Week Out. BBC One. Archived from the original on 17 August 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2023 – via YouTube.
  18. ^ "Lostprophets' Ian Watkins: Descent from 'good guy' to depravity". BBC News. 27 November 2013. Archived from the original on 29 May 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  19. ^ Dewey, Philip (25 August 2017). "Everything the authorities knew about Ian Watkins in the years before he was caught". WalesOnline. Archived from the original on 7 April 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  20. ^ Carr, Johanna (25 August 2017). "Ian Watkins: Police criticised as Lostprophets singer 'could have been caught four years earlier'". The Independent. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  21. ^ Thomas, Helen Meriel (25 August 2017). "South Wales Police criticised over handling of evidence against former Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins". NME. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  22. ^ "Lostprophets rock star Ian Watkins child sex offence charges". BBC News. 19 December 2012. Archived from the original on 19 December 2012. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  23. ^ "Lostprophets singer charged over child sex offences". ITV News. 19 December 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  24. ^ Hall, John (19 December 2012). "Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins remanded in custody after appearing in court accused of conspiring to rape one-year-old girl". The Independent. Archived from the original on 20 December 2012. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  25. ^ "Lostprophets rock star Ian Watkins in court on sex charges". BBC News. 31 December 2012. Archived from the original on 31 December 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  26. ^ "Lostprophets' Ian Watkins child sex case adjourned". BBC News. 11 March 2013. Archived from the original on 29 March 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  27. ^ "Lostprophets rock star Ian Watkins denies baby rape charges". BBC News. 3 June 2013. Archived from the original on 6 June 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  28. ^ "Trial of Lostprophets' Ian Watkins to start in November". BBC News. 6 June 2013. Archived from the original on 19 September 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  29. ^ a b "Lostprophets' Ian Watkins guilty of child sex offences". BBC News, Wales. 26 November 2013. Archived from the original on 26 November 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  30. ^ a b c Morris, Steven (26 November 2013). "Lostprophets' Ian Watkins admits sex offences including attempted rape of baby". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 26 November 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  31. ^ a b c "Lostprophets' Ian Watkins sentenced to 35 years over child sex offences". BBC News. 18 December 2013. Archived from the original on 18 December 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  32. ^ a b Perry, Kevin E. G. (16 October 2017). "Why One of the World's Biggest Rockstars Got Away with Child Abuse". Vice. Archived from the original on 25 March 2018.
  33. ^ "Convicted paedophile Ian Watkins told fan: 'It was mega lolz'". The Guardian. Press Association. 18 December 2013. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  34. ^ Jones, Ciaran (18 December 2013). "Live updates: Ian Watkins to be sentenced over child sex offences". Wales Online. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  35. ^ Rhys, Steffan (18 December 2013). "Ian Watkins could be 'most dangerous sex offender I have ever seen' – officer". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  36. ^ "Lostprophets' Ian Watkins jail term appeal refused". BBC News. 23 July 2014.
  37. ^ Morris, Steven (1 July 2016). "Ian Watkins case: three South Wales detectives face misconduct inquiry". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 23 November 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  38. ^ "Detectives who received complaints about paedophile Lostprophets star Ian Watkins four years before he was caught face misconduct case". The Daily Telegraph. 1 July 2016. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  39. ^ a b "Ian Watkins child abuse: South Wales Police criticised". BBC News. 25 August 2017. Archived from the original on 29 August 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  40. ^ "Ian Watkins, Lostprophets Paedophile Rock Singer, Begins Jail Term At HMP Wakefield". Huffington Post. 19 December 2013. Archived from the original on 20 December 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  41. ^ Rhys, Steffan (24 January 2014). "Ian Watkins moved to same prison as child killer Ian Huntley". Wales Online. Archived from the original on 26 January 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  42. ^ "Ian Watkins 'groomed' a two-year-old girl's mother from behind bars". The Independent. 9 October 2017. Archived from the original on 8 October 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  43. ^ a b c Busby, Mattha (9 August 2019). "Ian Watkins given 10 months for possessing mobile phone in prison". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 9 August 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  44. ^ a b Darus, Alex (5 August 2019). "Lostprophets ex-singer hid phone in anus in prison, trial reveals". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on 6 August 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  45. ^ a b c "Jailed Ian Watkins 'had concealed phone in prison'". BBC News. 5 August 2019. Archived from the original on 13 June 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  46. ^ a b c "Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins refuses to 'snitch' over prison phone". BBC News. 7 August 2019. Archived from the original on 13 June 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  47. ^ "Ian Watkins: Disgraced Lostprophets frontman and convicted paedophile 'stabbed in prison'". Sky News. 6 August 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  48. ^ "Lostprophets' Ian Watkins stabbed in jail – reports". BBC News. 6 August 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  49. ^ "Lostprophets' Ian Watkins' jail injuries not life threatening". BBC News. 7 August 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  50. ^ "Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins dies after attack in prison". Sky News. 11 October 2025. Archived from the original on 12 October 2025. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  51. ^ Evans, Holly (12 October 2025). "Lostprophets bandmate of convicted paedophile Ian Watkins reacts to murder". MSN. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  52. ^ a b Harrison, Holly (11 October 2025). "Paedophile Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins dies in prison attack". BBC News. Archived from the original on 12 October 2025. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  53. ^ "Two charged with killing jailed singer Ian Watkins". BBC News. 13 October 2025. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  54. ^ "Increased violence at HMP Wakefield, report finds". BBC News. 29 September 2025. Retrieved 13 October 2025.

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