IAN WATKINS SENTENCED IN PONTYPRIDD FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES

Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins, aged 36 and from Pontypridd, has been sentenced to 35 years in prison following his guilty plea to multiple child sex offences, including an attempted rape of a baby. He appeared at Cardiff Crown Court last month to admit to 13 child sex offences. His two co-defendants—women identified as Woman A and Woman B, who are the mothers of some of the children Watkins abused—were sentenced to 14 and 17 years respectively.

Delivering the sentence, Mr Justice Royce described the case as breaking "new ground" and reaching "new depths of depravity." Watkins was given a sentence of 29 years behind bars, with an additional six years on licence. He will be eligible for parole after serving two-thirds of his sentence.

Watkins was sentenced alongside Woman A, who received a 14-year term, and Woman B, who was sentenced to 17 years. Watkins admitted to the attempted rape and sexual assault of a child under 13 but pleaded not guilty to outright rape. He also admitted conspiring to rape, committing three counts of sexual assault involving children, seven charges related to taking, making, or possessing indecent images of children, and possessing an extreme pornographic image depicting a sex act on an animal.

During sentencing, Mr Justice Royce remarked: "Those who have appeared in these courts over many years see here a large number of horrific cases. This case breaks new ground. Any decent person... will experience shock, revulsion, and incredulity." He emphasized the overwhelming evidence against Watkins, stating that no credit should be given, and described Watkins as having a "corrupting influence" with a "complete lack of remorse." The judge stressed that Watkins posed a significant risk to the public, especially women with young children.

Addressing Woman A, he said: "What you were both doing is both sickening and incomprehensible," and noted that Woman B had failed to regard her child as a human being.

Earlier on Wednesday, Watkins' defence lawyer, Sally O'Neill QC, stated that Watkins had "belatedly realized the gravity of what happened" and was "deeply, deeply sorry." She explained that he had developed an "obsession" with filming himself having sex and had become addicted to drugs at age 30. Regarding the incident involving Woman A and her son, where Watkins admitted to attempted rape of a baby, her client claimed Watkins had no memory of the offence, stating, "Because he had no memory he could not believe he had done that," and added that Watkins had now faced the reality of his actions.

It was revealed during court proceedings that Watkins was on 15-minute suicide watch while in custody. Defence representatives for Woman A and Woman B expressed remorse; Jonathan Fuller QC said Woman A felt genuine remorse and was devastated by her actions, while Christine Laing QC stated Woman B was clearly remorseful and that losing her child was her punishment.

Meanwhile, South Wales Police are investigating whether Watkins committed offences in Germany and the United States. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is also examining three police forces involved in the case.

Detective Chief Inspector Peter Doyle, the senior investigating officer, commented: "The sentences reflect the gravity of the crimes, and our investigation has uncovered the most disturbing child abuse evidence I have seen in my 28 years. Today's sentence does not mark the end of our inquiries—we will work tirelessly to identify any other victims or witnesses and seek justice for them. We have received further information that will now be examined by investigators."

He added that the scale of the data involved in the investigation—27 terabytes, which is four or five times larger than the police databases—indicates there are likely more victims. Doyle expressed confidence that additional child victims exist.

Suzanne Thomas, Senior Crown Prosecutor at CPS Wales, described Watkins as the "ringleader" who conspired to commit "appalling crimes of abuse against young and defenseless victims." She called him a "highly dangerous and manipulative individual" who preyed on his victims in a calculated manner. She further noted that the other two women actively participated in some of the most shocking abuses involving their own children, and their sentences reflect their guilty pleas.

Thomas concluded by saying: "It is incomprehensible that adults would commit such acts against children and young people. Our thoughts remain with the victims and their loved ones."