Police reveal update into Ian Watkins’ condition after Lostprophets paedo is stabbed in neck
PAEDOPHILE rocker Ian Watkins’s injures after being ambushed and stabbed in jail are not life-threatening, police have revealed.
Lostprophets frontman Watkins, 46, was taken hostage by three other lags, before he was “roughed up” and stabbed.
Reports suggested he was in a critical condition in hospital, but West Yorkshire Police has now said his wounds are not thought to be life-threatening.
The force said this morning: “West Yorkshire Police were notified by staff at HMP Wakefield of an assault on a prisoner on the afternoon of Saturday, 5 August.
“He was taken to hospital where his injuries are not understood to be life-threatening. Enquiries are ongoing.”
The attack was carried out at HMP at HMP Wakefield, with reports suggesting it only ended when a “Tornado” team of specially-trained riot officers hurled stun grenades into the cell to free Watkins.
One source said Watkins had been knifed in the neck and had been taken for life-saving treatment at Leeds General Infirmary.
The vile ex-rocker was jailed for 35 years in 2013 for 13 offences against children.
Jo Mjadzelics, 47, is the person who first alerted cops about the singer’s warped fantasies involving kids.
She told the Mirror: “My only reaction is simply that I cannot believe it took them so long, particularly in Wakefield Prison.”
Police are investigating the attack, 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.”
Welsh rocker Watkins was jailed after a shocking trial for offences including the attempted rape of a baby.
In 2019, he was convicted of having a banned mobile phone in prison – and had another 10 months added to his sentence.
He used the device to communicate with scores of warped female fans from his cell.
The phone was found after an ex-girlfriend tipped off jail bosses.
Watkins – an ex of TV and radio star Fearne Cotton – changed his plea to guilty at the start of his 2013 trial.
He admitted trying to rape a fan’s baby and plotting to rape another infant.
Watkins, whose band sold more than 3.5million albums, 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 – were caged for 14 and 17 years each.
In 2014, he was refused the right to appeal against his 35-year sentence.
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”.
During the 2019 phone trial, Leeds Crown Court heard Watkins receives “hundreds of pages” of letters from women.
The ex-frontman received “a lot of mail” from mostly female fans, it was said.