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Lostprophets' Ian Watkins begins 35-year term for child sex offences Lostprophets' Ian Watkins begins 35-year term for child sex offences
(35 minutes later)
Paedophile Lostprophets' singer Ian Watkins is beginning a 35-year sentence for child sex offences.Paedophile Lostprophets' singer Ian Watkins is beginning a 35-year sentence for child sex offences.
Watkins, 36, from Pontypridd, was jailed for 29 years and ordered to spend a further six years on licence at Cardiff Crown Court.Watkins, 36, from Pontypridd, was jailed for 29 years and ordered to spend a further six years on licence at Cardiff Crown Court.
A police watchdog is investigating why three police forces did not act sooner on information about the paedophile A police watchdog is investigating why three police forces did not act sooner on information about the paedophile.
The NSPCC said the sentence reflected the severe damage caused by a "highly manipulative and devious sex offender".The NSPCC said the sentence reflected the severe damage caused by a "highly manipulative and devious sex offender".
Des Mannion, NSPCC national head of service for Wales, said: "Watkins used his status and global fame as a means to manipulate people and sexually abuse children.Des Mannion, NSPCC national head of service for Wales, said: "Watkins used his status and global fame as a means to manipulate people and sexually abuse children.
'Desperately need help''Desperately need help'
"But we must nevertheless remember that this case isn't about celebrity, it's about victims. And those victims are children."But we must nevertheless remember that this case isn't about celebrity, it's about victims. And those victims are children.
"The effects of these crimes can last a lifetime and there are many other children - victims of Ian Watkins or others like him - that desperately need our help.""The effects of these crimes can last a lifetime and there are many other children - victims of Ian Watkins or others like him - that desperately need our help."
Watkins admitted the attempted rape and sexual assault of a child under 13 but pleaded not guilty to rape.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.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.
He was sentenced alongside two women who are the mothers of the the children he abused.He was sentenced alongside two women who are the mothers of the the children he abused.
The women, who like Watkins had admitted child abuse offences at a hearing in November, were given 14 and 17 years in jail respectively.The women, who like Watkins had admitted child abuse offences at a hearing in November, were given 14 and 17 years in jail respectively.
The judge Mr Justice Royce said this child abuse case broke "new ground" and "plunged into new depths of depravity".The judge Mr Justice Royce said this child abuse case broke "new ground" and "plunged into new depths of depravity".
Watkins was shaking visibly in the dock as he was sentenced.Watkins was shaking visibly in the dock as he was sentenced.
But the court had heard on the day after he admitted the charges in court he had spoken with a female fan from prison and said he was going to issue a statement saying it had all been "mega lolz".But the court had heard on the day after he admitted the charges in court he had spoken with a female fan from prison and said he was going to issue a statement saying it had all been "mega lolz".
The judge said Watkins had a "corrupting influence", and had shown a "complete lack of remorse". He also said Watkins posed a significant risk to the public in particular to women with young children.The judge said Watkins had a "corrupting influence", and had shown a "complete lack of remorse". He also said Watkins posed a significant risk to the public in particular to women with young children.
He told one of the women who were involved in the abuse: "What you were doing is both sickening and incomprehensible". He told the other that she did not regard her child as a human being.He told one of the women who were involved in the abuse: "What you were doing is both sickening and incomprehensible". He told the other that she did not regard her child as a human being.
'Thorough, robust investigation''Thorough, robust investigation'
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.
A spokesman for the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) told BBC Wales: "Special agents with Ice's homeland security investigations in Boston and Los Angeles assisted British authorities with their ongoing investigation.A spokesman for the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) told BBC Wales: "Special agents with Ice's homeland security investigations in Boston and Los Angeles assisted British authorities with their ongoing investigation.
"We continue to support their efforts as necessary.""We continue to support their efforts as necessary."
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is investigating three police forces over the case.The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is investigating three police forces over the case.
South Yorkshire, Bedfordshire and South Wales are being investigated over information received about Watkins before his arrest in December 2012.South Yorkshire, Bedfordshire and South Wales are being investigated over information received about Watkins before his arrest in December 2012.
Three other forces, Essex, West Yorkshire and the Metropolitan Police, also supplied information that they had been given about Watkins for the inquiry but are not currently under investigation.Three other forces, Essex, West Yorkshire and the Metropolitan Police, also supplied information that they had been given about Watkins for the inquiry but are not currently under investigation.
The IPCC's Jan Williams has promised will be a 'thorough, robust investigation' into how police responded to complaints against WatkinsThe IPCC's Jan Williams has promised will be a 'thorough, robust investigation' into how police responded to complaints against Watkins
Det Ch Insp Peter Doyle, senior investigating officer, said the sentences reflected the gravity of the crimes and the investigation uncovered "the most disturbing child abuse evidence" he had seen in his 28 years as an officer.Det Ch Insp Peter Doyle, senior investigating officer, said the sentences reflected the gravity of the crimes and the investigation uncovered "the most disturbing child abuse evidence" he had seen in his 28 years as an officer.
"Today's sentence does not mark the end of our investigations and we will work tirelessly to identify any other victims or witnesses and seek the justice they deserve."Today's sentence does not mark the end of our investigations and we will work tirelessly to identify any other victims or witnesses and seek the justice they deserve.
Mr Mannion, of the NSPCC, said Watkins may have more victims. Jan Pickles, from the NSPCC said that since Watkins pleaded guilty, referrals to its helpline had gone up by over 70%.
"In the weeks since Watkins' guilty plea it's become apparent that many people may have been aware of his abuse of children. "Now we can't put it down to a Watkins effect but it is a significant increase," she said.
"Some people did come forward to report it, but equally there were some that stayed silent. Most worryingly, some have claimed that their reports were not acted on for some time. It's absolutely right that the IPCC are now investigating this. Ms Pickles told BBC Radio Wales: "The overriding message for victims of sexual assault and sexual abuse from the Watkins case was that significant sentences were possible.
"It's an incredibly difficult step to report child abuse so it's imperative that when people do speak out, they have the upmost confidence that what they are reporting will be acted upon immediately. "What we know from talking to most young people - and I work in schools with young people and other groups of young people - is that if they're sexually assaulted they probably wouldn't tell anybody .
"But calls to the NSPCC to report abuse in the period following Watkins' guilty plea rose significantly compared to the same period last year. "They wouldn't tell their friends because they're worried about falling out with their friends and becoming gossip and being broadcast around in all the social media," she added.
"This tells us that the reporting of cases such as this have helped to put child protection in the spotlight and resulted in more people coming forward and protecting children." "They're worried about telling teachers, they're worried about telling their family. Ninety per cent of young people are sexually abused by somebody that they know, so it's a difficult place.
"People are coming forward more, so if there's one thing out of this story which is optimistic, it is that victims are realising there is someone out there who will listen.
"Talk to the police, talk to the social services, talk to the NSPCC but talk to someone."