Two more men have been arrested over the death of disgraced Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins following what authorities describe as a coordinated attack inside one of Britain’s most notorious prisons.
The arrests bring to four the total number of suspects being investigated for the paedophile rock star’s killing at HMP Wakefield on 11 October, with detectives now examining whether multiple inmates conspired to murder him.
Watkins, 48, was serving nearly three decades for horrific child sex offences when his throat was allegedly slashed at the maximum-security Yorkshire jail known as “Monster Mansion”.
“Conspiracy to Murder” Suspects Arrested
West Yorkshire Police today confirmed that two additional men were arrested on suspicion of conspiring to murder the former rock star.
The suspects, aged 23 and 39, are both in police custody and will be interviewed throughout today before being bailed and returned to prison whilst investigations continue.
The conspiracy charges suggest detectives believe the killing was planned in advance rather than being a spontaneous attack.
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Chief Inspector James Entwistle said: “Extensive enquiries remain ongoing in relation to the murder of Ian Watkins and these arrests form part of that.”
“Ian Watkins’ family are being updated as the investigation progresses. However, we do not anticipate any immediate developments at this stage.”
Two Already Charged With Murder
Rico Gedel, 25, and Samuel Dodsworth, 43, appeared in court last week charged with murdering Watkins.
Neither suspect entered or indicated pleas at the brief hearing, with a provisional two to three week trial date fixed for 5 May next year.
A plea and trial preparation hearing will be held on 12 November, when prosecutors may outline their case against the pair.
Only one of the four suspects is believed to have actually wielded the weapon during the fatal attack, though others may have played supporting roles.
“Knew His Time Was Up”
Since Watkins’s death, disturbing details have emerged about his final days behind bars and the circumstances leading to his murder.
The singer had reportedly been paying other inmates for protection, suggesting he was acutely aware of the danger he faced.
Watkins is understood to have been living on a “general” wing alongside some of Wakefield’s most dangerous criminals, rather than in a wing specifically for vulnerable sex offenders.
A source was quoted as saying: “It was as if [Watkins] knew his time was up.”
The decision to house him amongst the general population rather than in protective segregation may have left him fatally exposed to inmates who despise child sex offenders.
Throat Cut After Cell Unlock
Watkins is believed to have had his throat slashed after prisoners came out of their cells during association time.
The attack occurred in an area where inmates mix freely, rather than in the relative safety of a locked cell.
A source previously told The Sun: “Guards were nearby and raced to the scene pretty quickly. But there was nothing they could do, and they could not save him.”
The source described “a horrific scene, with blood everywhere and alarms and sirens going off.”
Police and ambulances were called and the entire prison was locked down with all inmates confined to cells whilst authorities secured the scene.
Previous Attacks
Watkins had been targeted multiple times during his incarceration, suggesting his murder may have been inevitable.
“He has been attacked a few times inside Wakefield over the last few years, so perhaps this was just a matter of time,” one source said.
In August 2023, the paedophile was hospitalised after being stabbed in another prison attack, with three inmates grabbing him and leaving him with neck injuries.
The pattern of violence indicates Watkins was unable to find safety even within Britain’s supposedly secure prison system.
“Target on His Back”
The source explained the grim logic behind the attacks: “Watkins was obviously high-profile and in for the most disgusting crimes. So that meant he was walking around with a target on his back, and this has happened.”
Sex offenders, particularly those who have abused very young children, occupy the bottom rung of the prison hierarchy and face constant threats from other inmates.
Watkins’s celebrity status made him even more recognisable and therefore vulnerable to inmates seeking notoriety or simply expressing their revulsion at his crimes.
Monstrous Crimes
In 2013, Watkins was given consecutive jail terms of 14 and 15 years for engaging in sexual activity with a child and the attempted rape of an 11-month-old baby.
He was also convicted of 11 other offences at Cardiff Crown Court, with those sentences running alongside his 29-year term.
The attempted rape of a baby represented depravity so extreme that even hardened criminals found it incomprehensible, explaining the visceral hatred Watkins provoked inside prison.
“Monster Mansion”
Category A HMP Wakefield holds 630 inmates and has earned the nickname “Monster Mansion” due to the number of high-profile and dangerous prisoners it contains.
The jail houses some of Britain’s most notorious criminals, including serial killers, terrorists and serious sex offenders.
Despite its reputation for secure containment, Watkins’s murder demonstrates that even maximum-security facilities cannot always prevent determined inmates from carrying out violence.
Questions Over Prison Safety
The killing raises serious questions about why Watkins was housed on a general wing rather than in protective custody given his profile and previous attacks.
Prison authorities face difficult decisions about segregating vulnerable prisoners versus maintaining some quality of life, but Watkins’s death suggests the balance was fatally wrong in his case.
The fact that four men are now under investigation suggests the attack may have been coordinated, pointing to possible failures in intelligence gathering within the prison.
Investigation Continues
With two men already charged and two more arrested on conspiracy allegations, the investigation into Watkins’s death appears to be expanding.
Detectives are likely examining whether the killing was discussed and planned over time, who knew about it, and whether prison staff could have prevented it.
The differing ages of the suspects – 23, 25, 39 and 43 – suggests this wasn’t simply a gang of associates but possibly inmates from different social circles united by hatred of Watkins.
Family Updated
DCI Entwistle confirmed that Watkins’s family are being kept informed as the investigation progresses.
For relatives already devastated by his monstrous crimes and the shame he brought upon them, his violent death adds another layer of trauma.
Trial Set for May
If the case proceeds as scheduled, the trial of Gedel and Dodsworth will take place in May next year, lasting between two and three weeks.
The November plea hearing may provide more details about the prosecution’s case and what evidence has been gathered.
Whether the two newly arrested suspects will also face murder charges or lesser offences remains to be seen as detectives complete their inquiries.
As the investigation continues, Watkins’s death serves as a reminder that whilst the justice system may imprison child abusers, prison itself often delivers its own brutal form of justice that the authorities struggle to prevent.
Follow for more updates on Britannia Daily
