Court shown moment Ian Watkins steps out of prison cell covered in blood

8 May 2026 • 8:11 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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Court shown moment Ian Watkins steps out of prison cell covered in blood

Dramatic prison CCTV footage has captured the moment convicted paedophile and Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins emerged from his cell, covered in blood, after being stabbed. The disgraced musician was attacked inside his high-security cell at HMP Wakefield on 11 October last year.

The video, shown to a jury at Leeds Crown Court, appears to show alleged murderer Rico Gedel, who was initially referred to by police as Rashid Gedel, leave the vicinity of Watkins’ cell shortly after he was attacked.

Gedel then appears to engage in a brief conversation with co-defendant Samuel Dodsworth as the pair walk down the hall.

At 9.16am, seconds after Gedel leaves the area, Watkins emerges from his cell and looks both ways before retreating back into his cell.

The video also appears to capture a large amount of blood on his grey prison-issued T-shirt.

Former Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins (South Wales Police)

The court previously heard serving prisoner Gedel went into Watkins’ cell less than 20 minutes after it was unlocked for the morning and stabbed him three times in the head and neck with a home-made knife.

Gedel, 25, and Dodsworth, 44, both deny murder and possession of a makeshift knife in prison.

The trial continues.