Share this @internewscast.com
A man convicted of murdering his two-year-old stepdaughter was found deceased in a West Yorkshire prison. Kyle Bevan, who was serving a life sentence at HMP Wakefield, had been convicted for the brutal murder of Lola James. The toddler suffered 101 separate injuries in what was described as a ‘frenzied and extremely violent attack’ at her home in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire.
This incident unfolded when authorities were alerted and rushed to the high-security facility at 8:25 am today, following reports of a man discovered dead in his cell.
The tragic discovery comes on the heels of another high-profile case at the same prison. Just weeks ago, Ian Watkins, the former Lostprophets frontman and convicted paedophile, was murdered while serving his sentence. Watkins had been imprisoned for nearly 30 years due to a string of appalling child sex offenses, including the attempted rape of a fan’s baby daughter.
Following Watkins’ murder, two individuals, Rico Gedel, 25, and Samuel Dodsworth, 43, now face charges related to the death of the disgraced musician. The ongoing investigations into both deaths highlight the serious challenges faced within the prison system when it comes to ensuring the safety of inmates, even those serving time for heinous crimes.
Rico Gedel, 25, and Samuel Dodsworth, 43, have been charged with murdering the disgraced rock star.
Watkins was serving nearly three decades behind bars for a series of horrific child sex offences, including the attempted rape of a fan’s baby daughter.
A reliable source told the Daily Mail that three fellow prisoners have been arrested tonight in connection with Bevan’s death and taken to police stations to be interviewed.
According to the source, Bevan was discovered in bed this morning dead with head and throat injuries.
Kyle Bevan, 31, who killed his stepdaughter in 2020, has been found dead in prison
‘We think he was already dead last night, but was tucked up in bed and when they did the lock-up cell check they thought he was asleep,’ said the source.
Subsequent examination of CCTV revealed other prisoners going to and leaving Bevan’s cell just before lights out, according to the source.
Meanwhile Bevan killed his stepdaughter in her sleep on July 17, 2020.
The Prison Service confirmed his identity on Wednesday evening.
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.’
HMP Wakefield is a category A men’s prison, housing more than 600 inmates including several high-profile, high-risk offenders.
Following a visit in June, inspectors described it as a ‘prison under strain’.
Their report said: ‘Levels of violence had increased, and many prisoners did not feel safe.’
It added: ‘Many prisoners told us they felt unsafe, particularly older men convicted of sexual offences who increasingly shared the prison with a growing cohort of younger prisoners.’
In April 2023, Bevan, then 31, was given a minimum 28-year sentence after the court heard that Lola James’s body was the ‘most battered and bruised child’ one doctor had ever seen.
Two-year-old Lola James (pictured) was killed by Kyle Bevan after the toddler’s mother failed to protect her following months of abuse
The self-confessed ‘spice head’ who also took amphetamines, tranquilliser Xanax and cannabis, attacked Lola after the toddler’s mother failed to protect her.
Sinead James, 30, who allowed Bevan to move into her home within days of meeting him on Facebook and four months before Lola died, was jailed for six years.
Bevan was convicted of murder while James was found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child – having allowed him to continue looking after Lola despite her suffering previous injuries.
Sentencing at Swansea Crown Court, Mr Justice Griffiths said the attack on Lola was a ‘culmination of several months of physical child abuse’.
He said of Bevan: ‘He has shown no remorse at all. At the time he did not even simulate sadness about Lola’s injuries and critical condition.’
The judge said James always brought Lola back to Bevan and left her in his sole care despite the youngster suffering a series of injuries in his care.
He said: ‘She was surrounded by supportive family and friends. She was connected to Social Services. She always had places of refuge.
‘As the evidence against him began to mount she continued to hope for the best and leave her children at risk.’
Addressing Bevan in court, Lola’s grandmother said: ‘You have taken so much more than you can even imagine.’
She recalled how her ‘cheeky monkey’ granddaughter loved the outdoors and was happiest when she was ‘caked in mud, playing in her shorts and wellies’.
Lola’s grandmother added: ‘I constantly blame myself. Why didn’t I see something? Why didn’t I notice?’
Kyle Bevan was serving a life sentence in HMP Wakefield for murdering his stepdaughter
She also wept as she told the court that Lola’s clothes still hang in the wardrobe and her toys are still in the cupboard.
The court heard a multi-agency referral had been made on behalf of Sinead James in January 2020 after a reported domestic violence incident with her former partner at her home.
But Covid lockdowns meant they did not meet again face to face.
No visits were made to the address after February 10, the same month Bevan moved into her property.
A month later the UK Government triggered the first country-wide Covid-19 pandemic lockdown.
Five months later Lola suffered a catastrophic brain injury at Bevan’s hands in her home in Haverfordwest.
The case has chilling echoes of the murder of five-year-old Logan Mwangi at the hands of his racist ex-convict stepfather, mother and 13-year-old stepbrother.
A report found that Logan – whose battered body was dumped in a river near his home in Bridgend in July 2021 – was failed due to lockdown rules and doctors not passing on signs of abuse.
Lola was rushed to hospital with the horrific injuries where she remained for four days until her death on July 17 2020
Also in Wales, the parents of 16-year-old Kaylea Titford were this year jailed for manslaughter after leaving their morbidly obese daughter bedridden in squalor before her death in October 2020.
The Tories called for the Labour government in Cardiff to launch an ‘all-encompassing’ review of child protection, saying such tragedies happened in Wales ‘far too often’.
Social workers had warned Lola’s mother against inviting strangers into her home. And friends told her of the danger he might pose.
But James ignored the advice and took in Bevan, a former ‘spice head’ who admitted taking amphetamines, tranquillisers and cannabis.
Pembrokeshire County Council confirmed a child practice review would take place into the death of Lola.
‘We can confirm a child practice review is under way and this will be completed in accordance with statutory guidance,’ a spokesman said.
‘We do not at this stage have an agreed timescale for publication however a copy of the report will be made available to media outlets in advance of publication.’
They added: ‘Whilst Pembrokeshire County Council has had some historical involvement with Lola and her family, the local authority was not involved with the family at the time of her death or indeed at any time during the relationship between Kyle Bevan and Sinead James.
James (pictured) was a victim of domestic abuse and had been educated twice on how to spot signs of an abuser, but she chose to prioritise her relationship with Bevan over her child’s safety, the court heard previously
‘The local authority continues to offer its sincerest condolences to Lola’s family for their loss, recognising that this outcome will bring little comfort to them, given they have lost Lola so young and in such tragic circumstances.’
The court heard Lola died in hospital four days after the early morning attack at her mother’s home in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, in July 2020.
Bevan lied that the family dog pushed Lola down the stairs, resulting in a catalogue of injuries including catastrophic brain damage.
James claimed she was asleep at the time – and said she had no reason to think her partner would hurt her daughter.
In a victim impact statement, Lola’s father Daniel Thomas said she was as ‘bright as the golden sun’ and had to live in ‘filth and chaos at the hands of her mother’.
He said: ‘The memory of Lola lying in a hospital bed fighting to stay alive will remain with me always.’
The court heard Bevan failed to call an ambulance immediately after the attack but instead filmed a ‘disturbing 22-second film’ of seriously injured Lola.
Bevan also carried out a series of internet searches at 6.32am on July 17, 2020, asking what to do when a child has gone ‘limp and snoring’ after a ‘bang to the head’.
Bevan is believed to have cleaned the bath after putting Lola in it, either to revive her or to clean her after the assault. A child’s wet, vomit and blood-stained grey Frozen onesie which she is believed to have been wearing when she was attacked was later found in the corner of the living room. Paramedics arrived to find Lola wet and in clean clothes
Prosecutor Caroline Rees KC said his behaviour was an attempt ‘to cover his tracks’.
The court heard Lola’s injuries included ‘bruising all over her little body and grazing of the skin’ and extensive damage to every part of both retinas.
Photographs of the family home taken by police crime scene investigators showed a ‘clean and shiny bath’ while the rest of the house was piled with clutter and toys.
The court heard Lola had suffered previous injuries when left alone with Bevan – but James said she had no concerns over her daughter’s safety despite being warned by the mother of one of his former partners about his risk to children.
Mrs Rees said James failed to protect Lola when she allowed Bevan, who had a ‘nasty and violent temper’, to move into their home.
Her attempt to carry out domestic violence checks on Bevan using Clare’s Law the day before the murder failed when he refused to give her his date of birth.
Defending David Elias KC, for James, said she was a victim of domestic abuse who was ‘intimidated’ by Bevan.
No mitigation was offered for Bevan, whose previous convictions were not disclosed.
The depraved rock singer (pictured), 48, died in an alleged attack at HMP Wakefield on October 11, where he was serving nearly three decades for a catalogue of child sex offences
Singer Ian Watkins was stabbed in the neck last month, an inquest heard.
Watkins was said to have been ambushed by prisoners when inmates were allowed out of their cells at 9am.
A provisional post-mortem concluded Watkins died from ‘an incision wound to the neck’ at the West Yorkshire jail, the brief hearing was told.
He was pronounced dead by a doctor and his body identified by a prison officer.
Area coroner for West Yorkshire, Oliver Longstaff, said: ‘Ian Watkins was pronounced deceased on October 11, 2025, by paramedics who had attended HMP Wakefield where he was a serving prisoner, following a report that he had been stabbed in the neck.
‘A forensic post-mortem has given a provisional cause of death for him of incision wound to the neck.
‘Other prisoners have been charged with Mr Watkins’ murder.’
Following Watkins’ death, more details have emerged about his time behind bars, including his reported use of other inmates as paid protection.
The Welsh musician had been serving 29 years for a string of child sex offences, including the attempted rape of a fan’s baby daughter
He was believed to have been living on a ‘general’ wing with some of Wakefield’s most dangerous inmates – as opposed to one dedicated to sex offenders.
Watkins was arrested following the execution of a drugs warrant at his home on September 2012.
His vile crimes came to light when officers seized a large number of computers, mobile phones and storage devices.
In 2019, he was jailed for 10 months on top of his sentence after being found guilty of possessing a mobile phone in prison.
In August 2023, Watkins survived a knife attack in the neck after being taken hostage by three inmates at HMP Wakefield.
