18 December 2013
Newsdesk
Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins has been handed down a 35 year jail sentence after pleading guilty to a string of child sex offences.
The 36-year-old singer made a last minute change of plea to guilty at the start of his trial at Cardiff Crown Court last month.
Watkins had plotted with two fans in order to abuse their own children.
He encouraged a fan to abuse her own child during a webcam chat and also admitted to sexually touching a one-year-old alongside her mother.
Watkins also had a stash of child porn on his computer and had made his own personal videos which he encrypted.
Previously denying all 24 charges brought against him he finally pleaded guilty to 13 counts with some ongoing.
Two female co-defendants, unnamed for legal reasons, also pleaded guilty, known as Woman A and Woman B they admitted child abuse charges.
Watkins will be eligible for parole after serving two thirds of his prison term.
A senior detective has claimed that the psychology of Ian Watkins makes him potentially the most dangerous sex offender he has ever prosecuted.
"It's as if he just doesn't care," Detective Chief Inspector Peter Doyle said. "He has shown no remorse at any time. In my view, that potentially makes him the most dangerous sex offender I have ever seen."
Mr Doyle says Watkins will have to face further child sex abuse allegations from behind bars as officers continue their investigation overseas.
Lostprophets bandmates deny ever any knowledge of Watkins' crimes and released a statement saying they were "heartbroken, angry, and disgusted".
Paving slabs on which were written some of his lyrics are to be excavated from a street in his home town in south Wales.
The council said the granite slabs at Pontypridd will be removed "as soon as possible."
