THE killer of Lostprophets paedo Ian Watkins is believed to be a gangland brute serving time for another murder.
have arrested two inmates aged 43 and 25 on suspicion of murder — with the younger con understood to have wielded the weapon that



The 25-year-old is said to have recently arrived on the same wing at HMP Wakefield and demanded money from Watkins.
The “vulnerable” former singer, 48 — jailed for 29 years in 2013 for offences including abusing babies — was as inmates were allowed out of their cells on Saturday morning.
He was being held on a “general population” wing rather than one just for sex offenders.
Our source said: “Watkins was known for paying for his security in jail. “He was getting rinsed.
“Someone would threaten him and he’d pay up.
“The killer had approached him and said, ‘Give me money and I’ll protect you’.
“No one’s clear why he then turned on him — and slit his neck.
“Watkins was getting no special protection on a wing with killers, gangsters and drug dealers.
“It put him in extreme danger and it was as if he knew his time was up.”
The Category A jail fears a “copycat” attack on other inmates.
It conducted a weapons search and lags have been locked down.
They fear prisoners may target someone such as child killer Mick Philpott or Sarah Payne’s murderer Roy Whiting.
Yesterday, Watkins’ — who helped expose the paedophile rocker — said: “I’m surprised this didn’t happen sooner.”


On Saturday night, a white van, believed to be carrying the man who wielded the weapon, was seen leaving the jail flanked by police cars.
Justice sources expect him and the other suspect to be charged and sent to another high-security jail.
We exclusively revealed on Saturday night.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said: “Two men, 25 and 43, have been arrested on suspicion of murder.”
Life and crimes of Ian Watkins
By
IAN Watkins was the super-confident and charismatic frontman of alt-rock band Lostprophets as they rose to fame in the early 2000s.
He had formed the group with guitarist Lee Gaze in Pontypridd, Wales in 1997 and they went on to build up a huge following on the UK’s underground music scene.
A debut album, The Fake Sound of Progress – released in 2000 – brought them commercial success.
Second album Start Something, which came out four years later spawned hits including Last Train Home and Burn Burn.
Further success followed with 2006’s Liberation Transmission and The Betrayed, released in 2010.
Lostprophets sold out venues including the Cardiff international Arena, and Watkins – their energetic lead-singer – had a legion of adoring fans.
But rumours began to swirl of his erratic behaviour, drug use and a sinister dark side.
Still, the rock world was stunned by his 2012 arrest and subsequent conviction – which led detectives to label twisted Watkins the most dangerous sex offender they had encountered.
Watkins, who briefly dated TV and radio star Fearne Cotton in 2005, denied charges against him – but changed his plea to guilty at the start of his 2013 trial.
He confessed to 13 vile offences – including trying to rape a fan’s 11-month-old son and conspiring to rape another’s daughter.
Watkins also admitted possessing indecent photos of children found on computers at his home in Pontypridd, South Wales.
Of 90 abuse images, 24 were level five – the most serious category.
Officers had to turn to experts at government intelligence network GCHQ to crack encryption codes.
Meanwhile Cardiff Crown Court heard how he joked with a female fan 24 hours after his confession – calling his offences “mega lolz” (slang for laughing out loud).
In a recorded call from jail, he said: “I’m going to put a statement out just to say it was mega lolz.
“I don’t know what everyone’s getting so freaked out about.”
The fiend claimed at court that he could not remember the sickening attacks because he was a “heavy user” of crystal meth at the time.
But his own KC, Sally O’Neil admitted: “There is little that can be said in way of mitigation.”
And – handing out one of the longest tariffs ever to a convicted paedophile – Mr Justice Royce said: “These courts see a large number of horrific cases. This case, however, breaks new ground.
“You had many fawning fans. That gave you power.
“You knew you could use that power to induce young female fans to help satisfy your insatiable lust and take part in the sexual abuse of their children.
“Away from the highlights of your performances lay a dark and sinister side.”
Det Chief Insp Peter Doyle said: “He has shown no empathy or remorse.
“That potentially makes him the most dangerous sex offender I’ve ever seen.”
Two co-defendants – fans who were the mothers of victims – were caged for 14 and 17 years each.
In 2014, Watkins was refused the right to appeal against his 35-year sentence.
So until his death yesterday, he languished in bleak Wakefield Prison, West Yorkshire – one of Britain’s toughest jails where many will believe an act of brutal natural justice was meted out.
