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Joanne Mjadzelics, the ex-girlfriend of former Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins, has spoken publicly for the first time since news broke of his murder in prison. Watkins, who was serving a lengthy sentence for multiple child sex offenses, was reportedly killed by fellow inmates. Mjadzelics, who once played a key role in exposing his crimes, said that while the news came as a shock, she was not surprised it happened.
“I was always waiting for this phone call,” she told The Independent. “He was walking around with a target on his back from the first day he entered the prison.”
Mjadzelics admitted "I am relieved" after hearing of his death, describing it as a moment that lifted a heavy burden she had carried for years.
For Mjadzelics, Watkins’ death marked the end of a long and painful chapter. She said she had lived in constant fear that he might one day find a way to contact or harm her if he were ever released. His murder, she said, finally brought her a sense of closure and safety.
Joanne Mjadzelics' years of fear and trauma
In 2006, Joanne Mjadzelics contacted the Lostprophets through their website when she wanted concert tickets. Their relationship became romantic soon after, but she eventually realized that there were disturbing behaviors that prompted her to call the authorities on numerous occasions.
Worries about her had no response until the police took action years later. In the year 2013, Watkins was convicted of a series of child abuse crimes that stunned the world.
In a posthumous interview, Mjadzelics disclosed that she had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and had self-harming problems because of her relationship with Watkins.
“I’ve been through years of nightmares and fear,” she said. “I used to wake up thinking he would come after me.”
She explained that the years following his conviction were not easy. Even with Watkins behind bars, she continued to worry about his influence and possible revenge from his supporters. The trauma, she said, shaped her life and mental health in lasting ways.
Joanne Mjadzelics' role in exposing Watkins
Joanne Mjadzelics is widely recognized as one of the first people to alert police about Watkins’ behavior. She said she had reported his criminal actions multiple times before his arrest, but her warnings were ignored.
Authorities allegedly dismissed her as a jealous ex-partner. “They called me a nuisance,” she recalled. “No one believed me until it was too late.”
Joanne Mjadzelics said that she was vindicated and heartbroken when Watkins was finally convicted. She continued to speak on various platforms about the pain of being ignored by law enforcement and the long, exhausting wait for justice to finally be served. Her perseverance later became instrumental in seeing Watkins brought to the court and charged.
Now after his demise, Mjadzelics claims that she only feels relief. "I wanted him dead long enough", said she. “There was never real love. It was all an image he created.”
To her, the death of Watkins will allow her to finally start making a step without any fear.
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