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Lostprophets' Ian Watkins child sex offences sentence due Lostprophets' Ian Watkins child sex offences sentence due
(35 minutes later)
Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins is due to be sentenced for a series of child sex offences including the attempted rape of a baby.Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins is due to be sentenced for a series of child sex offences including the attempted rape of a baby.
Watkins, 36, from Pontypridd, pleaded guilty to 13 child sex offences at Cardiff Crown Court in November.Watkins, 36, from Pontypridd, pleaded guilty to 13 child sex offences at Cardiff Crown Court in November.
On Wednesday, the court heard Watkins had said in a phone call after admitting the charges: "It was mega lols. I don't know what everyone is getting freaked out about."On Wednesday, the court heard Watkins had said in a phone call after admitting the charges: "It was mega lols. I don't know what everyone is getting freaked out about."
He also said no baby was harmed.He also said no baby was harmed.
During the calls made while he was at Parc Prison in Bridgend, he denied being a paedophile and told the caller he only pleaded guilty to avoid a trial. Watkins is being sentenced alongside two women, mothers of the abused children, known as Woman A and Woman B, who also pleaded guilty to child abuse charges at a hearing in November.
He admitted the attempted rape and sexual assault of a child under 13 but pleaded not guilty to rape.
He 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.
On Wednesday, at the sentencing hearing the court was told that during the calls made while Watkins was at Parc Prison in Bridgend, he denied being a paedophile and told the caller he only pleaded guilty to avoid a trial.
Defending, Sally O'Neill QC said the Lostprophets were an extremely well-known band.Defending, Sally O'Neill QC said the Lostprophets were an extremely well-known band.
"Ian Watkins was the lead singer and was the focus of constant attention from fans and some would do anything to get it - and keep it," she told the court."Ian Watkins was the lead singer and was the focus of constant attention from fans and some would do anything to get it - and keep it," she told the court.
He developed an "obsession" with filming himself having sex.He developed an "obsession" with filming himself having sex.
Fans used "extraordinary tactics" to get his attention, and the teenagers he filmed himself having sex with were "extremely willing" participants, she added.Fans used "extraordinary tactics" to get his attention, and the teenagers he filmed himself having sex with were "extremely willing" participants, she added.
She asked for credit for Watkins' guilty plea to spare the jury and others "an extremely difficult and distressing" trial.She asked for credit for Watkins' guilty plea to spare the jury and others "an extremely difficult and distressing" trial.
However Mr Justice Royce said she was being "wholly unrealistic" to consider that to be mitigation of his guilty plea.However Mr Justice Royce said she was being "wholly unrealistic" to consider that to be mitigation of his guilty plea.
He called Watkins' actions "horrific sexual abuse of babies".He called Watkins' actions "horrific sexual abuse of babies".
Ms O'Neill said the videos needed to be looked at "in context" of his life and not in isolation.
She said Watkins life changed at the age of 30 when he became addicted to drugs.
"The drugs have played a significant part in this," she said.
'No memory'
"The initiator was often the fan... until he eventually responded and joined in."
He said he had no memory of the crime involving Woman A and her son, where Watkins pleaded guilty to attempted rape of a baby.
"Because he had no memory he could not believe he had done that," she said, adding he had now "confronted reality" of what he had done.
Watkins was on 15-minute suicide watch while on remand, the court heard.
Ms O'Neill said the crimes were deeply serious but added: "The baby's mother was clearly encouraging him.
"It's safe to say the child will have no memory of the crime."
The court heard Watkins's relationship with the second woman, known as B, involved sending hundreds of messages including images of bestiality.
She wanted to change her name and have his name tattooed on her body, and offered to put his name on her child's birth certificate.
Ms O'Neill said: "The involvement and responsibility of these offences is joint and equal and without the mothers would not have taken place."
The sentencing hearing is continuing.The sentencing hearing is continuing.
'Complex'
Meanwhile, South Wales Police are investigating whether Watkins also committed offences in Germany and America.Meanwhile, South Wales Police are investigating whether Watkins also committed offences in Germany and America.
The IPCC said it was investigating three police forces over the case.The IPCC said it was investigating three police forces over the case.
In a statement, the police watchdog said: "We now have three separate independent investigations into South Wales, South Yorkshire and Bedfordshire Police running alongside each other involving the handling of information held on Mr Watkins prior to his arrest.In a statement, the police watchdog said: "We now have three separate independent investigations into South Wales, South Yorkshire and Bedfordshire Police running alongside each other involving the handling of information held on Mr Watkins prior to his arrest.
"But this is complex and will take time. There are clearly links between the three investigations which cover a four year period and involve numerous allegations and reports and the police response to each must be considered.""But this is complex and will take time. There are clearly links between the three investigations which cover a four year period and involve numerous allegations and reports and the police response to each must be considered."
A significant part of the investigation into South Wales Police centres on a detective sergeant who is also being investigated in a separate case where it is alleged he failed to act on allegations a 15-year-old girl had been raped, the IPCC said.A significant part of the investigation into South Wales Police centres on a detective sergeant who is also being investigated in a separate case where it is alleged he failed to act on allegations a 15-year-old girl had been raped, the IPCC said.
Five forces in total gave South Wales Police information on Watkins.Five forces in total gave South Wales Police information on Watkins.
The announcement came on the day that Watkins is due to be sentenced for child sex offences. Meanwhile, Det Ch Insp Peter Doyle of South Wales Police is leading an investigation into other possible offences by Watkins and says he "is sure" of other child victims.
In November, Watkins - called a "determined and committed paedophile" by a judge - admitted his guilt at the start of his court appearance after he had originally "furiously denied" the allegations.
Watkins admitted the attempted rape and sexual assault of a child under 13 but pleaded not guilty to rape.
He 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.
Two women, mothers of the abused children, known as Woman A and Woman B, also changed their pleas and admitted the charges against them. They are also due to be sentenced.
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 the abuse - which took place in various hotels in London and south Wales - and kept recordings which were recovered by police.
Det Ch Insp Peter Doyle of South Wales Police is leading an investigation into other possible offences by Watkins and says he "is sure" of other child victims.
He said the investigation was large scale because the amount of data involved - 27 terabytes - was "four or five times" the size of the databases held by South Wales Police.He said the investigation was large scale because the amount of data involved - 27 terabytes - was "four or five times" the size of the databases held by South Wales Police.
He added: "The inquiries currently being conducted in Germany and the United States lead me to believe that there are further victims in those countries.He added: "The inquiries currently being conducted in Germany and the United States lead me to believe that there are further victims in those countries.
"At this juncture my belief is that they are child victims.""At this juncture my belief is that they are child victims."
The South Wales Police team is liaising with the National Crime Agency, Interpol, and Homeland Security in America.The South Wales Police team is liaising with the National Crime Agency, Interpol, and Homeland Security in America.
A former girlfriend of Watkins claims she warned police repeatedly over several years about the singer.A former girlfriend of Watkins claims she warned police repeatedly over several years about the singer.
South Wales police referred themselves to the IPCC after Ian Watkins was charged nearly a year ago.South Wales police referred themselves to the IPCC after Ian Watkins was charged nearly a year ago.