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| Lostprophets' Ian Watkins guilty of child sex offences | Lostprophets' Ian Watkins guilty of child sex offences |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Ian Watkins, singer of Welsh rock band Lostprophets, has pleaded guilty to a series of "depraved" child sex offences including attempted rape of a baby. | Ian Watkins, singer of Welsh rock band Lostprophets, has pleaded guilty to a series of "depraved" child sex offences including attempted rape of a baby. |
| He had previously "furiously denied" the allegations. | He had previously "furiously denied" the allegations. |
| The 36-year-old from Pontypridd and two women had been due to stand trial at Cardiff Crown Court. | The 36-year-old from Pontypridd and two women had been due to stand trial at Cardiff Crown Court. |
| Watkins pleaded guilty to attempted rape and sexual assault of a child under 13 but not guilty to rape. This was accepted by the prosecution. | Watkins pleaded guilty to attempted rape and sexual assault of a child under 13 but not guilty to rape. This was accepted by the prosecution. |
| Sentencing will take place on 18 December. | Sentencing will take place on 18 December. |
| Prosecuting barrister Chris Clee QC told the court: "Ian Watkins was the lead singer in a successful band called the Lostprophets. | Prosecuting barrister Chris Clee QC told the court: "Ian Watkins was the lead singer in a successful band called the Lostprophets. |
| "He accepts he was a determined and committed paedophile." | "He accepts he was a determined and committed paedophile." |
| Watkins also admitted conspiring to rape a child, three counts of sexual assault involving children, seven involving taking, making or possessing indecent images of children and one of possessing an extreme pornographic image involving a sex act on an animal. | |
| The evidence against the defendant came from computers, laptops and mobile phones. | The evidence against the defendant came from computers, laptops and mobile phones. |
| One laptop seized from Watkins's home was password protected with an obscenity relating to sexual activity with children, which was uncovered when it was sent to GCHQ to be cracked. | One laptop seized from Watkins's home was password protected with an obscenity relating to sexual activity with children, which was uncovered when it was sent to GCHQ to be cracked. |
| The court heard that he filmed and kept the episodes of abuse - which took place in various hotels in London and south Wales - which were recovered by police. Some of the evidence was too extreme and distressing to report. | The court heard that he filmed and kept the episodes of abuse - which took place in various hotels in London and south Wales - which were recovered by police. Some of the evidence was too extreme and distressing to report. |
| Referring to two women standing alongside Watkins in the dock, Mr Clee said: "Both women sexually abused their own children and made them available to Watkins for him to abuse." | Referring to two women standing alongside Watkins in the dock, Mr Clee said: "Both women sexually abused their own children and made them available to Watkins for him to abuse." |
| The court was told how the abuse of the children by all parties was also evident in text messages. | The court was told how the abuse of the children by all parties was also evident in text messages. |
| Watkins sent a text to one of the women saying: "If you belong to me, so does your baby." | Watkins sent a text to one of the women saying: "If you belong to me, so does your baby." |
| In an exchange involving the other woman, she sent Watkins a message along with an image of her child to the effect that her child needed to know she was not loved. | In an exchange involving the other woman, she sent Watkins a message along with an image of her child to the effect that her child needed to know she was not loved. |
| Watkins also planned to "teach" the babies how to take drugs, the hearing was told. | Watkins also planned to "teach" the babies how to take drugs, the hearing was told. |
| Mr Clee said drugs played "a significant part in his offending against children". | Mr Clee said drugs played "a significant part in his offending against children". |
| Police found meth, cocaine and GHB during their searches. | Police found meth, cocaine and GHB during their searches. |
| Mr Clee told the court drugs were a "regular theme" in his dealings with the two other defendants. | Mr Clee told the court drugs were a "regular theme" in his dealings with the two other defendants. |
| Claiming his innocence, Watkins had told police during interviews he was being stalked by "a crazed fan" and other people had access to his computers. | Claiming his innocence, Watkins had told police during interviews he was being stalked by "a crazed fan" and other people had access to his computers. |
| He claimed he was the "victim of a malicious campaign". | He claimed he was the "victim of a malicious campaign". |
| The court heard in Oct 2006, Watkins met up in a hotel with a 16-year-old girl from Boston, who he had met during during a Lostprophets concert. | The court heard in Oct 2006, Watkins met up in a hotel with a 16-year-old girl from Boston, who he had met during during a Lostprophets concert. |
| She dressed in a schoolgirl's outfit and he filmed their encounter. | She dressed in a schoolgirl's outfit and he filmed their encounter. |
| In Oct 2008 he filmed himself having sex with another 16-year-old girl, who was also a Lostprophets fan. | In Oct 2008 he filmed himself having sex with another 16-year-old girl, who was also a Lostprophets fan. |
| Exploited status | Exploited status |
| One of the two women charged alongside Watkins, Woman A, admitted the attempted rape of a baby after denying rape and two charges of sexual assault as well as taking and distributing an indecent photograph of a child. | One of the two women charged alongside Watkins, Woman A, admitted the attempted rape of a baby after denying rape and two charges of sexual assault as well as taking and distributing an indecent photograph of a child. |
| Woman B pleaded guilty to conspiring to rape a child, three sexual assault charges and four charges of taking, possessing or distributing indecent images. | Woman B pleaded guilty to conspiring to rape a child, three sexual assault charges and four charges of taking, possessing or distributing indecent images. |
| After hearing legal argument from barristers, Mr Justice Royce called the jury into court and told them: "There will not be a trial in this case. The defendants have all pleaded guilty to nearly all the charges against them. The prosecution does not seek a trial in these circumstances. | After hearing legal argument from barristers, Mr Justice Royce called the jury into court and told them: "There will not be a trial in this case. The defendants have all pleaded guilty to nearly all the charges against them. The prosecution does not seek a trial in these circumstances. |
| "You have been saved from having to watch extremely graphic and distressing material." | "You have been saved from having to watch extremely graphic and distressing material." |
| Mr Clee told the judge there had been an argument regarding what some key video evidence showed. | Mr Clee told the judge there had been an argument regarding what some key video evidence showed. |
| "From the footage, there is an argument as to whether the full offence (of rape) is made out," he told judge Mr Justice Royce. | "From the footage, there is an argument as to whether the full offence (of rape) is made out," he told judge Mr Justice Royce. |
| "If it is made out, it is minimal. There is so little difference between the full attempt and the attempt as to make no difference." | "If it is made out, it is minimal. There is so little difference between the full attempt and the attempt as to make no difference." |
| Sally O'Neill, defending Watkins, said the singer was under the care of a psychiatrist. | Sally O'Neill, defending Watkins, said the singer was under the care of a psychiatrist. |
| Speaking outside the court, Det Ch Insp Peter Doyle from South Wales Police said: "This investigation has uncovered the most shocking and harrowing child abuse evidence I have ever seen. | Speaking outside the court, Det Ch Insp Peter Doyle from South Wales Police said: "This investigation has uncovered the most shocking and harrowing child abuse evidence I have ever seen. |
| "There is no doubt in my mind that Ian Watkins exploited his celebrity status in order to abuse young children. | "There is no doubt in my mind that Ian Watkins exploited his celebrity status in order to abuse young children. |
| "Today's outcome ensures the three people responsible have been brought to justice." | "Today's outcome ensures the three people responsible have been brought to justice." |
| "Two very young children have been removed from this abuse and given a future that would otherwise have been denied them. | "Two very young children have been removed from this abuse and given a future that would otherwise have been denied them. |
| "The investigation has been extremely complex and challenging with key information and evidence being identified from witnesses worldwide." | "The investigation has been extremely complex and challenging with key information and evidence being identified from witnesses worldwide." |
| He added that today's guilty pleas did not mark the end of the investigation and the force would work "tirelessly" to identify other victims or witnesses. | He added that today's guilty pleas did not mark the end of the investigation and the force would work "tirelessly" to identify other victims or witnesses. |
| Lostprophets guitarist Lee Gaze expressed his relief on Twitter that the case had been concluded, writing: "That was over quick.... Thanks for the kind words. At least there is closure now." | Lostprophets guitarist Lee Gaze expressed his relief on Twitter that the case had been concluded, writing: "That was over quick.... Thanks for the kind words. At least there is closure now." |