Joanne Mjadzelics, the ex-girlfriend of disgraced LOSTPROPHETS frontman Ian Watkins, has spoken out following his murder at HMP Wakefield, saying she feels “relieved” and “like a weight has been lifted.”

Watkins, 48, was killed on Saturday, October 11, inside the maximum-security prison where he was serving a 29-year sentence for child s-x offenses. Two inmates, Rashid Gedel (25) and Samuel Dodsworth (43), have been charged with his murder.

But while the violent nature of Watkins’ death shocked many, Mjadzelics — who helped expose his crimes — said she had long feared him, even after he was imprisoned.

“I Was Always Waiting for This Phone Call”

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Mjadzelics admitted she wasn’t surprised by the news of his killing.

“This is a big shock, but I’m surprised it didn’t happen sooner,” she said. “I was always waiting for this phone call. He was walking around with a target on his back from the first day he entered the prison.”

Mjadzelics, who suffered post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and years of self-harm following her relationship with Watkins, described his death as a form of closure.

“I have always been scared of him getting out and tracking me down or something, so this is a relief,” she added.

“I Wanted Him Dead for a Long Time”

Mjadzelics did not hide her emotions when asked how she felt about Watkins’ violent end.

“I wanted him dead for a long time after everything he did,” she said. “I am relieved, I feel like a weight has been lifted from my head.”

She added that this wasn’t the first time Watkins had been attacked behind bars.

“This is the second time someone has slashed his throat. I expected it to have happened earlier. He’s been in there for almost 13 years.”

Her comments have reignited debate over whether Watkins, one of the UK’s most reviled prisoners, should have received additional protection — or whether his notoriety made such violence inevitable.

The Attack Inside HMP Wakefield

According to reports, Watkins’ throat was slashed during a violent confrontation at HMP Wakefield. Witnesses claimed guards rushed to the scene within seconds, but the injuries were too severe for him to survive.

A prison source told The Sun:

“[Ian] was targeted by another inmate who shanked him in the neck. Guards were nearby and raced to the scene pretty quickly — but there was nothing they could do, and they could not save him. It was a horrific scene, with blood everywhere and alarms and sirens going off.”

The prison, often nicknamed “Monster Mansion,” houses some of Britain’s most dangerous criminals. Watkins had already survived a previous stabbing in 2023, also at Wakefield.

Police and Court Proceedings

West Yorkshire Police confirmed the arrests and charges on Monday (October 13):

“Detectives have charged two men with murder after the death of a prisoner at HMP Wakefield on Saturday,” the force said in a statement.

“Ian Watkins, 48, was pronounced dead after being seriously assaulted at HMP Wakefield on Saturday morning (11 October). Rashid Gedel, 25, and Samuel Dodsworth, 43, both of HMP Wakefield, have been charged with murder. They are due to appear at Leeds Magistrates Court this morning.”

Both men were remanded in custody and are expected to appear at Leeds Crown Court for further hearings.

Closure After Years of Fear

Mjadzelics’ reaction reflects the profound psychological toll her relationship with Watkins took on her life.
She played a key role in exposing his crimes to police, leading to his 2013 conviction for multiple child s-x offenses.

Her decision to go public — despite immense personal cost — was instrumental in ending Watkins’ ability to harm others.

Now, over a decade later, his death marks what she describes as the end of a long nightmare.

“It’s a relief. I finally feel free,” she reportedly told friends following the news.