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| Ian Watkins child abuse: Band mates appeal for other victims to come forward | Ian Watkins child abuse: Band mates appeal for other victims to come forward |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Former band mates of paedophile Ian Watkins, who has admitted a string of child sex offences, have appealed for other victims to come forward. | Former band mates of paedophile Ian Watkins, who has admitted a string of child sex offences, have appealed for other victims to come forward. |
| Lostprophets said they would forever be "haunted" by what Watkins, 36, of Pontypridd, had done but were unaware of his actions. | Lostprophets said they would forever be "haunted" by what Watkins, 36, of Pontypridd, had done but were unaware of his actions. |
| In a statement they said they "never imagined him capable" of such offences. | In a statement they said they "never imagined him capable" of such offences. |
| Police called for victims to come forward after Watkins dramatically changed his pleas in court on Tuesday. | Police called for victims to come forward after Watkins dramatically changed his pleas in court on Tuesday. |
| He pleaded guilty to a series of offences - described as "depraved" in court - including attempted rape of a baby. | He pleaded guilty to a series of offences - described as "depraved" in court - including attempted rape of a baby. |
| South Wales officers are now investigating new leads after receiving around a dozen calls. | South Wales officers are now investigating new leads after receiving around a dozen calls. |
| The police chief who led the inquiry said they would "work tirelessly to identify any other victims". | The police chief who led the inquiry said they would "work tirelessly to identify any other victims". |
| Det Ch Insp Peter Doyle described it as "the most shocking case I have ever seen". | Det Ch Insp Peter Doyle described it as "the most shocking case I have ever seen". |
| Watkins will be sentenced on 18 December. | Watkins will be sentenced on 18 December. |
| The other members of Lostprophets had announced in October that the band would disband amid the sex offence charges against Watkins. | The other members of Lostprophets had announced in October that the band would disband amid the sex offence charges against Watkins. |
| Now, in a statement on Facebook over the weekend, Jamie Oliver, Lee Gaze, Luke Johnson, Mike Lewis and Stuart Richardson said they had "hoped it was all a mistake". | Now, in a statement on Facebook over the weekend, Jamie Oliver, Lee Gaze, Luke Johnson, Mike Lewis and Stuart Richardson said they had "hoped it was all a mistake". |
| "Sadly, the true extend of his appalling behaviour is now impossible to deny," said the statement. | "Sadly, the true extend of his appalling behaviour is now impossible to deny," said the statement. |
| "Many of you understandably want to know if we knew what Ian was doing. To be clear: we did not," they added. | "Many of you understandably want to know if we knew what Ian was doing. To be clear: we did not," they added. |
| They urged any other victims to "contact the authorities". | They urged any other victims to "contact the authorities". |
| The band described Watkins as a "difficult character" and said personal relationships with him had deteriorated in recent years "to a point that working together was a constant, miserable challenge". | The band described Watkins as a "difficult character" and said personal relationships with him had deteriorated in recent years "to a point that working together was a constant, miserable challenge". |
| Despite this, the band members said they "never imagined him capable of behaviour of the type he has now admitted". | Despite this, the band members said they "never imagined him capable of behaviour of the type he has now admitted". |
| "We are heartbroken, angry, and disgusted at what has been revealed. | "We are heartbroken, angry, and disgusted at what has been revealed. |
| "This is something that will haunt us for the rest of our lives." | "This is something that will haunt us for the rest of our lives." |
| Watkins admitted two counts of attempted rape and 12 other offences - including sexual assault and taking, making and distributing indecent images of children - as his trial was due to start at Cardiff Crown Court alongside two women. | Watkins admitted two counts of attempted rape and 12 other offences - including sexual assault and taking, making and distributing indecent images of children - as his trial was due to start at Cardiff Crown Court alongside two women. |
| The court was told the two women sexually abused their own children and made them available to Watkins for him to abuse. | |
| 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 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. |
| 'Take responsibility' | 'Take responsibility' |
| The evidence against Watkins came from computers, laptops and mobile phones with some recovered from "cloud" storage. | The evidence against Watkins came from computers, laptops and mobile phones with some recovered from "cloud" storage. |
| The court heard that he had filmed and kept the episodes of abuse which took place in various hotels in London and south Wales. | The court heard that he had filmed and kept the episodes of abuse which took place in various hotels in London and south Wales. |
| His former band mates said they hoped that Watkins would "truly take responsibility for what he's done". | His former band mates said they hoped that Watkins would "truly take responsibility for what he's done". |
| The band was founded in Pontypridd in 1997 and has sold about 3.5 million albums worldwide. | The band was founded in Pontypridd in 1997 and has sold about 3.5 million albums worldwide. |
| Their music received heavy airplay on mainstream radio stations and they were a staple festival act at the likes of Reading and Leeds. | Their music received heavy airplay on mainstream radio stations and they were a staple festival act at the likes of Reading and Leeds. |
| Meanwhile, a watchdog is investigating South Yorkshire Police's handling of complaints about Watkins. | Meanwhile, a watchdog is investigating South Yorkshire Police's handling of complaints about Watkins. |
| The Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating the force's handling of a complaint made against him in 2012. | The Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating the force's handling of a complaint made against him in 2012. |
| The watchdog has already opened an investigation into whether South Wales Police failed to act quickly enough. | The watchdog has already opened an investigation into whether South Wales Police failed to act quickly enough. |