Lostprophets singer admits two charges of attempting to rape a baby
Singer Ian Watkins has admitted rape attempts and offered a last-minute change of plea to guilty ahead of a planned trial.
10:47 27 November 2013
Former Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins has pleaded guilty to 11 sex offences, out of the 24 he is charged with, ahead of a planned trial. Nine of the charges were unchanged while two of attempted rape of an infant were downgraded from actual rape.
Prosecuting QC Chris Clee confirmed the existence of a camcorder footage taken from a London hotel room, which shows Watkins performing sex act on a child. He added that Watkins exchanged emails with a woman who cannot be named for legal reasons, about how they would not go “easy” on the child next time.
Clee added: "From the footage, there is an argument as to whether the full offence is made out.”
"If it is made out, it is minimal. There is so little difference between the full attempt and the attempt as to make no difference. We are prepared to accept the pleas as tendered."
Two women are also accused of abusing their own children in the ordeal alongside Watkins. Clee said: "Both women sexually abused their own children and made them available to Watkins for him to abuse."
The court heard that Watkins sent a text to one of the women saying: "If you belong to me, so does your baby."
Catrin Evans, head of the complex casework unit at the Crown Prosecution Service Wales, said: "The three defendants in this case have admitted very serious sexual offences committed against extremely young children, demonstrating sexual exploitation at its worst."
Speaking outside the court, Detective Chief Inspector Peter Doyle from South Wales Police said: "This investigation has uncovered the most shocking and harrowing child abuse evidence I have ever seen.
"There is no doubt in my mind that Ian Watkins exploited his celebrity status in order to abuse young children.
"Today's outcome ensures the three people responsible have been brought to justice."
"Two very young children have been removed from this abuse and given a future that would otherwise have been denied them.
"The investigation has been extremely complex and challenging with key information and evidence being identified from witnesses worldwide."
Sentencing will take place on 18 December.