The injuries sick paedophile and former Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins sustained when he was taken hostage by three other inmates for six hours and stabbed in the neck are NOT life-threatening, police have confirmed.
Watkins, 46, was described as ‘screaming’ for his life at HMP Wakefield during the prolonged attack and was only rescued when an armed ‘Tornado’ team of specially trained riot officers to break up the hostage situation, The Sun reported.
It was reported that paramedics could be seen giving life-saving treatment to the ex-rocker outside the prison.
Now West Yorkshire Police has confirmed his condition is not life-threatening.
A spokesperson for the force said: ‘West Yorkshire Police were notified by staff at HMP Wakefield of an assault on a prisoner on the afternoon of Saturday, August 5.
‘He was taken to hospital where his injuries are not understood to be life-threatening. Enquiries are ongoing.’
Sources claim Watkins has a ‘target on his back’ in jail and he was attacked on Saturday because the inmates were waiting for a day with less staff present.
Officers hurled stun grenades into the cell in order to free Watkins from the other inmates after they stormed the wing.
Former Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins was reportedly stabbed in the neck by three prisoners
Watkins claimed at his trial that he did not remember any of the offences as he was taking a large amount of crystal meth at the time
Members of Lostprophets (from the left) Lee Gaze, Stuart Richardson, Mike Lewis, Ian Watkins and Luke Johnson
The ex-rocker was jailed for 35 years in 2013 for 13 offences against children, including the attempted rape of an 11-month-old baby.
A source told The Sun Watkins, who is to serve 29 years in jail and a further six on licence, was attacked by three ‘heavy-duty’ prisoners and dragged into a cell which was then barricaded by the gang.
They described the paedophile as ‘screaming’ and in fear of his life as he was taken, with the entire West Yorkshire prison wing swiftly put on lockdown.
The attack, which began at around 9am on Saturday, went on for six hours until Watkins could be freed.
The source added: ‘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.’
Another source told The Mirror Watkins was ‘battered’ before being stabbed and that paramedics were seen giving life-saving treatment outside the prison.
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 was sentenced to 35 years behind bars after he admitted to a horrific string of evil offences which included the attempted rape of an 11-month-old baby, plus ten others after preying on fans.
He also admitted conspiring to rape a child, three counts of sexual assault involving children, seven involving taking, making or possessing indecent images of children and one of possessing an extreme pornographic image involving a sex act on an animal.
He changed his plea at the start of his trial but claimed he could not remember the ‘depraved’ abuse because he was high on crystal meth.
At trial Watkins claimed he could not remember the ‘depraved’ abuse he committed because he was high on crystal meth
Inside a prison cell at HMP Wakefield where Watkins has been sentenced to serve 29 years behind bars. Three inmates reportedly kept him hostage for six hours (pictured, stock image)
Watkins was sentenced to 35 years behind bars after he admitted to a horrific string of evil offences which included the attempted rape of an 11-month-old baby
The attack took place in HMP Wakefield (pictured, stock image). West Yorkshire Police said enquiries are ongoing
Describing the moment Watkins was taken hostage at the prison (pictured, stock image), a source said the paedophile as ‘screaming’ and in ‘fear of his life’
Since the 35-year term was handed down, he has had an extra 10 months added to the sentence due to possession of a mobile phone.
At a hearing for that offence, he told how he was locked up with ‘the worst of the worst’ and said someone could ‘sneak up behind me and cut my throat’.
The singer – a former boyfriend of BBC radio and television presenter Fearne Cotton – pleaded guilty to sex offences involving the children of two female fans, who were sentenced to 14 and 17 years in prison for allowing the offences to take place.
Prosecutor QC Chris Clee told Cardiff Crown Court in 2013: ‘Ian Watkins was the lead singer of a successful band called the Lostprophets.
‘He was also a determined and committed paedophile engaged in serious sex offences involving two babies.’
Mr Clee also gave details of a sickening 17-minute video involving Watkins and one of the babies’ mothers.
He said camcorder footage was shot in a London hotel room which showed Watkins performing a sex act on the child.
Sentencing Watkins, Mr Justice Royce said the case broke ‘new ground’ and his actions ‘plunged into new depths of depravity’.
Lostprophets entered the rock scene in 2000 with their debut album TheFakeSoundofProgress. A major label deal soon followed and saw the band’s second album Start Something become a commercial success in 2002 both at home in the UK and the US.
However, cracks in Watkins’s life soon started to appear – with rumours emerging of him being a sex-crazed drug addict who regularly conducted seedy online sex chats with young fans.
He has also previously faced multiple allegations of inappropriate messages and sex with underage girls.
Watkins initially denied his sickening crimes and claimed he was being framed to look like a paedophile after police found incriminating footage.
