Three prisoners arrested after child killer found dead in cell at HMP Wakefield

The Prison Service confirmed the man was 33-year-old Kyle Bevan, who was jailed for life for murdering his partner’s two-year-old daughter Lola James in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, in 2020.

Bevan was set to spend at least 28 years behind bars for the savage killing after inflicting catastrophic head injuries on the toddler during a six-hour attack.

Officers were called to category A HMP Wakefield at 8.25am on Wednesday following reports of a man being found dead in his cell, West Yorkshire Police said.

The force said his death was being treated as “suspicious”, with investigations continuing.

“Three men, who are all serving prisoners, have been arrested on suspicion of murder,” a statement said.

The incident comes less than a month after paedophile Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins was stabbed to death at the same prison.

A Prison Service spokesperson said: “HMP Wakefield prisoner Kyle Bevan’s death was confirmed on 5 November.

“We are unable to comment further while the police investigate.”

Former Lostprophets frontman Watkins, 48, died from a stab wound to the neck at the prison, an inquest opening heard.

Inmates Rashid Gedel, 25, and Samuel Dodsworth, 43, have been charged with murdering him.

Two more men from the prison have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder.

The news comes after a damning report revealing a rise in violent attacks at HMP Wakefield was published just weeks before the death of Ian Watkins at the prison, dubbed “Monster Mansion”.

Inspectors arrived unannounced at HMP Wakefield in August and found that safety had deteriorated, a report from the Prisons Inspectorate revealed.

The report found that almost three quarters of prisoners said they felt unsafe during their time at the prison.

Violent incidents had increased by 62 per cent with a 72 per cent rise in serious assaults.

Safety at the prison has declined from being “reasonably good” in 2022 to “poor” in 2025, the report added.