Joe Harker
**Content warning: Discussion of child sexual assault and rape.**
Police have issued an update on the condition of former Lostprophets singer and convicted paedophile Ian Watkins after he was taken to hospital following an attack in prison.
In 2013 Watkins was sentenced to 29 years in prison after being found guilty of multiple sex offences, including the attempted rape of a fan's baby.
Incarcerated in HMP Wakefield, Watkins was attacked on 5 August in the prison and taken to hospital.
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According to the Daily Mirror he was 'held hostage' by three other inmates and 'battered' at around 9am in the morning.
Police said they had been notified by staff at HMP Wakefield about an assault on a prisoner on the Saturday afternoon
A spokesperson for West Yorkshire police said that the injuries the convicted paedophile sustained in the attack were not thought to be life threatening.
They said: "He was taken to hospital where his injuries are not understood to be life-threatening."
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Police also said that there were ongoing inquires into the matter.
In December 2013 Watkins pleaded guilty to 13 child sex offences, including the attempted rape of a child and planning the rape of another, though he pleaded not guilty to rape.
The following year his legal representatives tried to get his sentence reduced, claiming that by pleading guilty he had 'averted the need for a most distressing and unpleasant trial'.
Judges rejected this request for a reduced sentence.
Watkins would later have a further 10 months added onto his sentence after being found guilty of possessing a mobile phone inside the prison.
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This means that there would be a further five months before Watkins would be eligible for parole.
At the time of his sentencing Mr Justice Royce told the convicted paedophile the court had seen 'a large number of horrific cases' but the crimes of Watkins 'breaks new ground'.
The judge said: "You, Watkins, achieved fame and success as the lead singer of Lostprophets. 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 own children."
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LADbible has contacted West Yorkshire Police for further comment.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact The Survivor’s Trust for free on 08088 010 818, or through their website thesurvivorstrust.org
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, contact the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000, 10am–8pm Monday to Friday. If you are a child seeking advice and support, call Childline for free on 0800 1111.