News

Lostprophets Frontman Ian Watkins Sentenced To 35 Years For Sex Crimes

• 18th Dec 2013

Ian Watkins, disgraced former front man of Welsh rock band Lostprophets, has today been sentenced to serve 29 years after admitting to a string of 13 child sex offences. Authorities fear that the scale of abuse is much larger than has been uncovered to date, with threads of investigation reaching to the US and Germany sparking new fears for further victims.

There is also an additional extended licence for six years making the total sentence for Watkins 35 years, and he will have to serve two-thirds of it before he can be considered for release.

Watkins and the two women stood emotionless in the dock as the judge, Mr Justice Royce, told the defendants that “what you three did plumbs new depths of depravity” saying that the case “breaks new ground”, before adding “any decent person looking at or listening to material here would experience shock, revulsion, anger and incredulity.”

Mr Royce stated that Watkins showed “evident delight” in abusing children and had shown “an almost complete lack of remorse” for his behaviour, adding that he was a “significant risk” to young women and children.

When recounting how Watkins told a probation officer that he did not know what lengths he would have gone to with children had he not been arrested, Justice Royce commented that it was “difficult to imagine anything much worse.”

Watkins’ two co-defendants, referred to as Woman A and Woman B to protect the identity of the victims, were also sentenced at the trial serving 14 and 17 years respectively.

Further shocking details emerged today surrounding the case as the court heard how Watkins made a phone call from prison to a female friend after his guilty plea, stating “I’m going to put a statement on the 18th now just to say it was megalolz, I don’t know what everyone is getting so freaked out about.”

According to his defence team Watkins is now said to be “ashamed and appalled by what has happened” and is claiming to have no recollection of events due to drug abuse.

The story has outraged the closely knit UK rock community with both fans and industry colleagues alike saddened by the depraved nature of the crimes Watkins has committed. Several key retail chains have removed his music from stock and in his hometown of Pontypridd, the council have torn up bricks in the town bearing some of the singer’s lyrics.

Watkins’ former bandmates have maintained a dignified silence on events, removing their official Facebook page and posting a statement that included:

“We are heartbroken, angry, and disgusted at what has been revealed. This is something that will haunt us for the rest of our lives.”

The other band members and investigating officers have urged any further victims to come forward.