/ 27 November 2013

Singer Ian Watkins pleads guilty to numerous sex offences

Singer Ian Watkins Pleads Guilty To Numerous Sex Offences

Rock singer Ian Watkins of the Welsh band Lostprophets pleaded guilty on Tuesday to the attempted rape of a baby, along with a number of other sex offences.

The 36-year-old, who had previously denied the allegations, made a series of admissions in a last-minute change of plea ahead of what would have been his trial at Cardiff Crown Court.

Other offences included making child pornography.

The prosecution described Watkins as a "determined and committed paedophile".

Watkins was originally charged with rape, according to the Telegraph on Tuesday, but at the time he "insisted sex with the child did not take place during a drug-fuelled binge he says he was on at the time".?

The report details how "prosecuting QC Chris Clee gave details of a plot to turn babies into subservient sex slaves using hard drugs".

'Summer of filthy child porn'
Clee shared the court a series of text and online messages "between Watkins and two female co-defendants".

According to the Telegraph, Watkins and Woman A "spoke of plans to blow crystal-meth smoke into the child's face at a secret meet up in a Cardiff hotel".

"And on March 23," said the report, "Watkins sent the woman a message saying he wanted a 'summer of filthy child porn' and how he wanted to take things 'to the next level'.

"Mr Clee also gave details of a sickening 17-minute video involving Watkins and Woman A. Mr Clee said camcorder footage was shot in a London hotel room, which showed Watkins perform a sex act on the child."

Sentencing will take place on December 18.

Watkins's top-selling band burst onto the music scene in 2000, enjoying substantial success, but has since split up. – Sapa-DPA