Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins taken ‘hostage for six hours’ by ‘killers’

Jo Mjadzelics blew the whistle on Ian Watkins’ offending (Image: PA Wire) The woman who blew the whistle on paedophile Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins says she is surprised it took so long for fellow inmates to attack him. It comes after he was reportedly taken hostage for over six hours by criminals who had “recently arrived” at HMP Wakefield. The singer is believed to be in critical condition in hospital after being “tortured” with a knife. Reports suggest the 46-year-old – who the the Daily Mail says is alleged to “prance around like a star” behind bars – was only freed when a “Tornado” team of riot officers hurled into the cell. Mail sources say two of the people were “killers” with suggestions the attack was planned for a day with fewer staff working. Watkins was jailed in 2013 for a string of offences, including the attempted rape of a baby. His ex-girlfriend Joanne Mjadzelics had warned police about his urges, only to be charged with possessing an idecent image of a child, sending the singer images of a child and demanding illegal pornography. She was later cleared of all charges. She told police she was trying to entrap her former flame, reports the Mail. Ian Watkins was sentenced to 29 years in prison, he must serve at least two thirds behind bars (Image: South Wales Police/PA Wire) Speaking to The Mirror , she said she was unphased for the singer’s health. She said: “My only reaction is simply that I cannot believe it took them so long, particularly in Wakefield Prison.’ Jo had an on and off again relationship with Watkins from 2006, after the singer contacted her on MySpace. She attempted to warn the authorities about his behaviour for years. He was only finally arrested when police raided his Pontypridd home using a drug warrant in September 2012. Watkins was jailed for 29 years with a further six years on licence, he will be eligible for parole after serving two thirds behind bars. His two co-defendants, the mothers of children he abused, were jailed for 14 and 17 years. During sentencing, Mr Justice Royce said the case broke ‘new ground’ and ‘plunged into new depths of depravity’. Jo Mjadzelics told police about Ian Watkin’s offending (Image: PA Wire) Watkins admitted the attempted rape and sexual assault of a child under 13 but pleaded not guilty to rape. Judges rejected an appeal by Watkins in 2014 reduce his sentence by half. As a rocker, Watkins sold millions of albums around the world, selling out arenas. Lostprophets had two Top 10 singles and a UK number one album.  Prison Officers’ Association vice-chair Dave Todd told the Mirror he was concerned for staff and prisoners over the rising number of incidents they are being exposed to in jails. Wakefield is one of oldest prisons in the UK. It was originally built as a correction house in 1954 with many of the current buildings dating from the Victorian era. In 2001 a new ultra-secure unit – the first of its kind in the UK – was built especially for Britain’s most dangerous criminals. The notorious jail also contains an underground glass box where murderer Robert Maudsley, chillingly dubbed ‘Hannibal the Cannibal’, has spent over 16,500 consecutive days in isolation. Channel 5 documentary HMP Wakefield: Evil Behind Bars revealed that sex offenders are regarded as the ‘lowest form of life’ in the prison. One contributor to the programme referred to the inmates as the ‘dregs of society’. Previous attacks have been made against inmates who commit crimes against children. In August 2022 Lithuanian Deividas Skebas, a former fruit picket, had to be airlifted to hospital after a group set upon him. He stabbed nine-year-old Lilia Valutyte to death. If you’ve been the victim of sexual assault, you can access help and resources via  www.rapecrisis.org.uk  or calling the national telephone helpline on 0808 802 9999