Inmate who killed Ian Watkins said 'have a good sleep' after attack, court told

An inmate taunted dying Lostprophets paedophile Ian Watkins after stabbing him in his prison cell, telling him: "Have a good night's sleep, Watkins lad," a court has heard. Watkins, 48, died after an alleged attack last October at HMP Wakefield, where he was serving a 29-year sentence for child sexual offences. Rashid Gedel, 25, referred to as Rico Gedel in court, and Samuel Dodsworth, 43, are on trial at Leeds Crown Court charged with murdering the paedophile. Prosecutor Tom Storey KC told the jury Gedel attacked Watkins inside his cell on the morning of October 11 and stabbed him three times with a homemade bladed weapon, which Dodsworth later hid. The court heard Gedel then taunted Watkins as prison officers escorted him back to his nearby cell while staff were still trying to give the shamed star first aid. Mr Storey said: "On the morning of October 11 last year, Ian Watkins was attacked in his cell not long after the prison officers had gone through the process of unlocking all the cell doors on his wing to allow the prisoners out for the morning. "He suffered three incised wounds to his head and neck, one of which cut through his jugular vein and the surrounding muscle tissues. He was attacked by the first of the two defendants, Rico Gedel, with a homemade bladed weapon. "This attack was part of what the prosecution say was clearly a joint offence which also involved the second defendant, Samuel Dodsworth, who was, the prosecution say, aware that the attack was to take place, and who assisted by, at the very least, disposing of the weapon used by Gedel in his attack upon Watkins." Continuing his prosecution opening, Mr Storey said Gedel was then "taken back up to his cell on the second landing by a group of prison officers". He said: "Because his cell was immediately next to Mr Watkins', this meant that the group escorting him had to pass the open door to Ian Watkins’ cell at a time when prison officers were still trying to provide first aid to him. As he walked past Ian Watkins’ open cell door, Mr Gedel clearly said 'have a good night's sleep, Watkins lad'. "He was then placed inside his own cell and once there, he was searched - nothing was found on his person or in his cell." Mr Storey went on to say that Gedel "appeared to find the situation amusing". He continued: "When asked where the weapon was, he told the officer, 'I used my hands' although they were clearly unmarked and had no blood on them. In due course, the clothing and shoes that Gedel was wearing were seized from him." Watkins was jailed for 29 years in December 2013, with a further six years on licence, after admitting a string of sex offences - including the attempted rape of a fan's baby. He was arrested following the execution of a drugs warrant at his Pontypridd home on September 21, 2012, when a large number of computers, mobile phones and storage devices were seized. Analysis of the equipment uncovered the singer’s depraved behaviour. Watkins was previously taken to hospital after being attacked in 2023. In 2019, he was jailed for an additional 10 months after he was found guilty of possessing a mobile phone in prison.