Inmate accused of killing paedophile Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins in fatal knife attack told police prison was a 'dog-eat-dog world', court hears

Published: 13:42, 12 May 2026 | Updated: 13:56, 12 May 2026 A prisoner charged with murdering paedophile Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins told police that 'prison is a dog-eat-dog world' and he was 'in the wrong place at the wrong time' of the disgraced rock star's killing. The disgraced frontman - serving a 35-year sentence for a string of horrific child sex offences - was attacked in his cell with a makeshift knife on October 11, 2025, inside maximum-security HMP Wakefield. One of three slash wounds to his face and neck sliced through his jugular vein and voicebox, causing catastrophic blood loss. Serving prisoner Rico Gedel, 25, is accused of murdering the singer alongside alleged 'look-out' Samuel Dodsworth, 44, who is also alleged to have disposed of the weapon. Both deny murder and possession of a makeshift knife in prison.  Leeds Crown Court heard that when questioned by police, Dodsworth told how prison 'is a dog-eat-dog world' and that Watkins was previously the victim of threats. However, he denied having any knowledge of the planned attack on Watkins and said he was 'in the wrong place at the wrong time' when the knife was passed to him. He said he 'panicked' and went to his cell to wrap the blade - a Stanley knife-type blade wrapped in Sellotape - in tissue before throwing it in a bin. Dodsworth told detectives: 'If you’re a grass, you’re going to get cut up for it. When you’re in prison you look after yourself.' Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins was murdered in jail where he was serving 29 years for child sex offences Samuel Dodsworth, 44, (pictured) accused of acting as his 'look out' for Rico Gedel, 25, told police that 'prison is a dog-eat-dog world' and he was 'in the wrong place at the wrong time'. He went on to say: 'Prison is a dog-eat-dog world in there and I have to put my own safety first. 'I panicked and wrapped it in a tissue, and saw the bin and threw it in.' He added: 'I saw Watkins stood at his door with a big gash on his neck.  'That's when I panicked and I just went and got tissue roll, and I ended up just chucking it in a bin.' Dodsworth told police he had never been violent, saying: 'The only wrongdoing I've ever done is hurt a woman, and that's it.' He said that as a convicted sex offender he had to 'look over his shoulder'. In transcripts of the interview read in court, Dodsworth said he saw Gedel looking 'suspicious' before the attack, and as if he was going to rob someone. He told police he wished he 'had just moved somewhere else' at that point, adding he was in the 'wrong place at the wrong time'.   Asked about his relationship to Watkins, Dodsworth said: 'I know of him but he's just another inmate to me who is just doing his time.' 'I've been in his cell before, so I just speak to him like I do with any of the other inmates. 'I didn't dislike him, we had conversations. We used to have a laugh and joke and that'. He said he knew Watkins was 'high profile', adding: 'He was just a normal person like anyone, any other person. 'Sometimes he'd get beaten, sometimes he wouldn't.' Asked about Watkins being beaten, he said: 'Because it's a high-risk prison. Even I'm expecting to get beat up one day before I leave that prison.' He said he had had 'general chit-chat' with Watkins in his cell, adding: 'With this sort of situation, I get a bit nervous myself. 'Since I've been in, I've been looking over my shoulder because of my offence. 'Even though my crime isn't as worse as what Mr Watkins' is, it's still a sexual offence.' Dodsworth said Watkins 'didn't really mingle with lots of people' and there was only one inmate whose cell he went in regularly. 'The guy whose cell he goes in, they both used to chuck money in together to get frozen food so they can cook at the weekend,' he told police. Dodsworth claimed he knew nothing about threatening notes sent to Watkins days before his death, but said: 'I've known in the past Watkins has had notes passed to him. 'He's had one before and that.' Serving prisoner Gedel, 25, (pictured) is accused of murdering the singer  who was serving a 35-year sentence for a string of horrific child sex offences Watkins died from 'significant' blood loss following a deep cut to the left side of his neck which sliced his jugular vein, jurors were told. Home Office forensic pathologist Robert Ainsworth described how a 10.5cm wound severed his left jugular vein, one of the main veins carrying blood from the head back to the heart. The same neck wound - carried out with a 'Stanley knife blade secured to a piece of plastic cutlery with a large amount of sellotape' - also cut into part of Watkins' voicebox and airway. Dr Ainsworth said: 'The most likely cause of his death would have been external blood loss. 'The left internal jugular vein is a very significant blood vessel that transports a lot of blood back from the head to the heart and if that is damaged in any way such that blood loss occurs then it is a significant threat to life.' Two other cuts to Watkins' right ear and an 11cm cut to his left cheek were not likely to have been fatal by themselves. The force used in the attack was described as 'mild to moderate'. Dr Ainsworth added: 'The trauma to the internal jugular vein in his neck would have resulted in significant external bleeding which was ultimately the most likely cause of Mr Watkins death.' Jurors were told Gedel is expected to admit killing Watkins but will claim he lost his self-control. Dodsworth denies knowing about the attack in advance and denies helping to plan or carry it out. Leeds Crown Court heard Watkins had long been considered vulnerable behind bars because of the notoriety of his crimes and because other prisoners believed he had access to money. The day before he was killed he had received two threatening notes, one of which demanded £500 and warned that if Watkins failed to pay: 'I promise you I will get your head cracked open, you snitch.' 'If it's not done by Saturday, you will see what will happen to you. Don't f*** about now, this is your last chance now.' Dodsworth said he had no knowledge of the threat but admitted Watkins had been previously sent menacing notes. Watkins, from Pontypridd, South Wales, was jailed in 2013 after admitting a catalogue of child sex offences, including engaging in sexual activity with a child and the attempted rape of an 11-month-old baby. He was handed consecutive 14-year and 15-year jail terms, with further sentences for 11 other offences to run alongside the 29-year minimum term. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.