In 2017 a report by the police watchdog found that police had failed several times from 2008 to 2012 to act on reports of Watkin's behaviour. They added: "We're doing our best to support him and hope for the best, that's all we can do." The told the Daily Mail that their son had been "loved, cherished, encouraged and nutured" and said: "We did our best." Watkins' distraught parents spoke in 2013 of their horror at their son's 'heinous' crimes. The disgraced rock star spoke with a female fan from prison the day after admitting two counts of attempted baby rape and said he was going to issue a statement saying it had all been "mega lolz". "It is incomprehensible that adults would commit such appalling acts against children and young people and our thoughts remain with the victims and those close to them." They too have received sentences that reflect their admissions of guilt for these offences. "The other two defendants were active participants in the most shocking abuse of their own children. Speaking about Watkins, she said: "He is a highly dangerous and manipulative individual who preyed on his victims in a calculated manner. Suzanne Thomas, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said Watkins the 'ringleader' and the defendants conspired to commit "appalling crimes of abuse against young and defenceless victims." He said the investigation uncovered "the most disturbing child abuse evidence" he had seen in nearly 30 years as a police officer.
The barrister he court how Watkins had developed an "obsession" with filming himself having sex and had become addicted to drugs aged 30.ĭetective Chief Inspector Peter Doyle, the senior investigating officer, said the sentences reflected the gravity of the crimes. He also said Watkins posed a significant risk to the public in particular to women with young children.ĭefending barrister Sally O'Neill QC said Watkins "belatedly realised the gravity of what happened" and was "deeply, deeply sorry". The judge said Watkins had a "corrupting influence", and had shown a "complete lack of remorse". He added it was a "classic case that the evidence was so overwhelming" there should not be credit given. Any decent person.will experience shock, revulsion and incredulity." Lostprophets frontman and convicted paedophile Ian Watkins (Image: PA) The judge added: "Those who have appeared in these courts over many years, see here, a large number of horrific cases. Mr Justice Royce said the case "plunged into new depths of depravity". His two co-defendants, who are the mothers of children he abused, were jailed for 14 and 17 years. The following year, 2013, saw Watkins admit 13 child sex offences including the attempted rape of a baby. The police had information about Watkins as far back as 2008 but it wasn't until 2012 that he was charged. It was later revealed that he had been grooming female fans with young children so he could abuse them.
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His band, Lostprophets, went on to sell over three million albums.īut at some point in around 2008, his behaviour began to change as he reportedly became obsessed with online pornography and images depicting abuse. He went on to achieve a first class honours degree and became world-famous as a rock singer who reportedly refused to do drink or drugs. Brought up in the Welsh valleys, Ian Watkins was a straight-A student, the stepson of a Baptist minister, and a talented musician.