Judge labels him a ‘dangerous sexual predator’
The former lead singer of the Lostprophets, Ian Watkins, has been jailed for 35 years for sex offenses on babies and children that plumbed “new depths of depravity.”
Described as a committed and determined pedophile during his sentencing, Watkins had used his power over fawning young fans to exploit them and persuaded two women to help satisfy what a judge called his “insatiable lust” by allowing him to abuse their young children.
Mugshot of Ian Watkins released by South Wales Police following his guilty pleas
After sexually touching a woman’s 11-month-old baby, Watkins, 36, then tried to have penetrative sex with the child. He also encouraged a second fan to abuse her child during a webcam chat and stashed child porn videos, some of which he had made himself.
Yet even after admitting two counts of attempted baby rape, he told a female fan during a phone call from prison that he would issue a statement saying it had been very funny, or “mega lolz” as he put it, Cardiff Crown Court was told.
He will spend about 20 years in prison and then another 15 on licence, the court heard. Watkins’ two accomplices, named only Woman A and Woman B, were jailed for 14 years and 16 years.
