Lostprophets paedo Ian Watkins in critical condition after three inmates take him hostage & stab him ‘in neck’
PAEDOPHILE rocker Ian Watkins was raced to hospital today after being ambushed and stabbed in a jail attack.
Lostprophets frontman Watkins, 46, was taken hostage by three other lags, before he was “roughed up” and stabbed.
Sources said the siege at HMP Wakefield only ended when a ‘Tornado’ team of specially-trained riot officers hurled stun grenades into the cell to free Watkins from his captors.
But they are said to have found him with stab wounds. 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 – jailed for 35 years in 2013 for 13 offences against children – was last night said to be in a serious condition in hospital.
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.
Last night, A Prison Service spokesperson said: “Police are investigating an incident which took place on Saturday at HMP Wakefield.
“We are unable to comment further while the police investigate.”
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 3.5 million 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.