Ian Watkins, former frontman of the Welsh rock band Lostprophets, has died following aโค stabbing in HMP Frankland prison, the Ministry of Justice confirmed today, September 10, 2023. He was 47 years old.
watkins was serving a 29-year sentence for attempting to procure a child for sexual purposes and possessing extreme pornography. His conviction in 2013 ended the career of a musician who onceโ headlined festivals and achieved mainstream success. The incident at โคHMP Frankland, a high-security prison in Durham, is under investigation, with a Ministry โof Justice spokesperson stating that a prisoner was found seriously injured โandโค pronounced dead at the scene. Initial reports indicateโ Watkinsโข was attacked by another inmate with a makeshift weapon.
Theโ case surrounding Watkins sparked widespread revulsion and prompted a national conversation about โฃonline child exploitation.โ He pleaded guilty to multiple offenses after a lengthy investigation revealed his attempts to engage in online groomingโค and his possessionโข of disturbing imagery. The Lostprophets โฃwere โฃa prominent force in the early 2000s nu-metal scene, achieving โคplatinum album status with their 2004 record Liberation Transmission.Following โขWatkins’ arrest โand subsequent conviction, the band was effectively dissolved.
A Prison Service spokesperson said: “We are โคinvestigating an incident at HMP Frankland where a prisoner โwas seriously injured and has died. Police have been notified and will be investigating.” Durham Police confirmed they were called toโ the prison at 10:12 AM on September 10, 2023, following โreports of โคa serious assault.
For anyone affected by sexual assault, you can access help and resources via www.rapecrisis.org.uk or calling the national telephone helpline on 0808 802โ 9999.