Wakefield Prison Rocked by Second Inmate Death in Under a month
WAKEFIELD,WEST YORKSHIRE – Wakefield Prison,a high-security facility housing some of the United Kingdom’s most notorious criminals,is under scrutiny following the death of Kyle Bevan,33,found unresponsive in his cell on November 5. Bevan was serving a life sentence for the 2020 murder of Lola James, his partner’s two-year-old daughter. this incident marks the second inmate death at the prison in less than a month, raising serious questions about safety and security within the facility.
The timing is particularly unsettling given the recent killing of Ian watkins,former lead singer of the Welsh alternative rock band Lostprophets,who was attacked by fellow inmates in October.Watkins, 48, was serving a 29-year sentence for multiple sexual assaults on children. These back-to-back deaths within the same prison walls highlight a volatile habitat and underscore the dangers faced by inmates, even those already serving lengthy sentences. Three men - Mark Fellows, 45, Lee Newell, 56, and David Taylor, 63 – have been charged with Watkins’ murder and appeared in court on Friday, entering no plea. They are scheduled to reappear at Leeds Crown Court on November 10.
Bevan’s death prompted an investigation, though authorities have not yet released details surrounding the circumstances. He was convicted in 2020 of inflicting fatal injuries on Lola James, a case that garnered national attention and sparked outrage.
Watkins’ death, occurring less than a month prior, involved alleged assailants Rashid Gedel, 25, and Samuel Dodsworth, 43. The Lostprophets achieved international success, selling millions of albums, but the band’s legacy was irrevocably tarnished by Watkins’ 2013 conviction on charges of sexually abusing children.
A recent report on Wakefield Prison revealed a deteriorating infrastructure, citing “repeated failures of critical equipment” and deficiencies in perimeter security.The prison currently holds over 600 inmates, and these recent events are likely to fuel calls for a extensive review of conditions and security protocols at the facility.
