Warning: This article contains references to child sexual abuse and extreme violence. 

The ex-girlfriend of convicted paedophile and former Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins says she feels relief after hearing he was killed in prison.

Watkins, 48, was reportedly ambushed and fatally attacked with a knife at Wakefield Prison on Saturday (Oct 11), while serving a 29-year sentence for horrific child sex offences. 

Speaking to the Daily Mail, his ex-girlfriend Joanne Mjadzelics said “this is a big shock, but I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner. I was always waiting for this phone call.”

“He was walking around with a target on his back from the first day he entered the prison. I have always been scared of him getting out and tracking me down or something, so this is a relief.”

Mjadzelics, who says she suffered PTSD and self-harm after their relationship, added: “I wanted him dead for a long time after everything he did. I am relieved, I feel like a weight has been lifted from my head.

“This is the second time someone has slashed his throat. I expected it to have happened earlier. He's been in there for almost 13 years,” she continued.

Mjadzelics, who had only just heard the news while speaking to the outlet, also said, “The families of those poor victims will be rejoicing today. He's gone and they will be just as relieved as I am. Maybe now a new part of my life will begin.

Adding, “The man I fell in love with never existed. He manipulated me and that man who died today in prison was a stranger to me. I never loved him, he just put on a character.”

According to reports nearer the time of Watkins' arrest, Mjadzelics had reported Watkins to the police four times before he was eventually arrested.

She said in 2015, "I regret meeting him but if I hadn't met him then no-one would have reported him. So I guess I can't regret anything because I was the one who kept going back and going back and reporting and reporting," BBC wrote.

The Daily Mail reports two men, aged 25 and 43, have been arrested on suspicion of the murder of Watkins and are currently in police custody.