Ian Watkins murder-accused told police he helped attacker because 'prison is a dog-eat-dog world'

One of the two prisoners accused of murdering the paedophile rocker Ian Watkins said he got rid of the knife used in the fatal stabbing because "prison is a dog-eat-dog world".

The former Lostprophets frontman was attacked in his cell at high-security HMP Wakefield on October 11 last year, with Leeds Crown Court hearing he was bullied and threatened in the days before his death.

Jurors heard Rico Gedel, 25, stabbed Watkins to death and Samuel Dodsworth, 44, helped him by disposing of the knife after the attack.

Prosecutors argue both men are guilty of murder because Gedel carried out the attack and Dodsworth knew it was going to happen and helped him.

The court was told that in his interview with detectives, Dodsworth said he was not involved in the attack and that Gedel passed him the blade after walking out of Watkin's cell.

Dodsworth told officers he tried to give the knife back to Gedel, but panicked when he saw Watkins emerge from his cell with a large cut on his neck.

He said he then wrapped the knife in some tissue from his cell and threw it in a bin, telling officers that "if you're a grass, you're going to get cut up for it...when you're in prison you look after yourself".

The defendant also told police: "Prison is a dog-eat-dog world in there and I have to put my own safety first. I've got to look over my shoulder because I'm in for a sexual offence."

Dodsworth said he had never been violent in prison, adding: "The only wrongdoing I've ever done is hurt a woman, and that's it."

He said he "didn't dislike" the singer and had been in his cell before, adding that the two of them would sometimes "have a laugh and a joke", but that Watkins didn't "mingle with lots of people".

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Dodsworth claimed he knew nothing about threatening notes sent to Watkins days before his death, but was aware of previous cases of him receiving notes.

Gedel, who was initially referred to by police as Rashid Gedel, and Dodsworth both deny murder and possession of a makeshift knife in prison.

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.

The trial continues.

(c) Sky News 2026: Ian Watkins murder-accused told police he helped attacker because 'prison is a dog-eat-dog wor