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Peaches Geldof investigated over tweet naming mothers in Ian Watkins case Peaches Geldof investigated over tweet naming mothers in Ian Watkins case
(about 1 hour later)
Peaches Geldof could face a criminal investigation after she named two women who allowed their babies to be abused by the disgraced rock star Ian Watkins. Peaches Geldof could face criminal charges after she named on Twitter two women who allowed their babies to be abused by the singer Ian Watkins.
The daughter of the Boomtown Rats star Bob Geldof posted the names of two women involved in the case on Twitter after reportedly reading them on a US-based website – but has since removed them. South Wales police force said it was in talks with the Crown Prosecution Service about the matter. South Wales police confirmed on Thursday that they were investigating whether to prosecute Geldof and other internet users who may have identified the two young victims.
The Lostprophets singer Watkins was branded a "determined and committed paedophile" after he pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a string of sex offences, including the attempted rape of a baby. The mothers of the two victims, a boy and a girl, are subject to lifelong anonymity orders to prevent the identities of their children falling into the public domain.
The 36-year-old, from Pontypridd, south Wales, plotted the abuse with two mothers in a series of text and internet messages. The two mothers, both in their 20s and fans of the Watkins band Lostprophets, were convicted of a series of sexual offences alongside the singer on Tuesday.
The attorney general's office has warned that sex offence victims have automatic lifetime anonymity and publishing details that can lead to their identification is a criminal offence. In a series of tweets to her 160,000 followers on Thursday, Geldof urged newspapers to publish the names of the two women before doing so herself. She swiftly deleted the names after being bombarded with warnings from other Twitter users.
A spokeswoman for the attorney general's office said: "We understand that the names of the co-defendants in the Ian Watkins case were posted online but have now been removed. Geldof, the daughter of Boomtown Rats frontman Bob, told her Twitter followers: "I can't even bring myself to comment on Watkins admitting raping babies either.
"As has been previously reported, the co-defendants were the mothers of the victims. "As a mother of two babies myself all I can think of as I read the stories is how utterly traumatised those babies must have been during and how he has now robbed them of their childhoods all for his own sick, twisted pleasure.
"Victims of sexual offences have automatic lifetime anonymity and the publication of names or information which can lead to their being identified is a criminal offence. This is a police matter." "The papers MUST name 'woman A & B' who offered up their own babies to this monster in the hopes of being close to their (majorly talentless) musical hero without a backward glance, as they are equal in their monstrosity.
"It sickens me to see just how far the cult of celebrity and super fandom has come when grown women are passing their own kids round. I hate the world sometimes."
Identifying victims of sexual offences is a crime under the Sexual Offences Act and carries a fine of up to £5,000, but publishers who flout the law often pay a further sum in compensation to the victim.
South Wales police, whose detectives led the Watkins investigation, codenamed Operation Globe, said it was investigating the Twitter posts alongside lawyers from the Crown Prosecution Service.
Detective Chief Inspector Peter Doyle, senior investigating officer from South Wales police, said: "We are aware that the names of Ian Watkins's co-defendants have been published on social media channels. Clearly, there is strong public feeling about this case and many people are using social media forums to talk about the issues involved.
"We are currently in consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service regarding the matter and will take action if appropriate.
"Our primary objective as an organisation remains the safeguarding of vulnerable people and children. Victims of sexual abuse have a right to anonymity in order to protect their future welfare and we urge those discussing the issues raised online to be careful about using information that identifies victims in cases like this."
A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman confirmed it was involved in the investigation.
The CPS said in a statement: "Anonymity for victims of sexual offences is a vital component of the criminal justice process. The CPS is liaising with South Wales police in relation to their investigation into allegations that the names of two women convicted alongside Ian Watkins have been placed in the public domain, contrary to legislation that protects the identity of victims by banning the publicising of information which would identify them."
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