Teh One Who Knocks
11-27-2013, 11:42 AM
By Associated Press / Billboard Staff
http://i.imgur.com/ex1tlS3.jpg
The former lead singer of British rock band Lostprophets has pleaded guilty to a series of sexual offenses, including trying to rape a baby.
Ian Watkins, 36, was arrested last December and charged with more than 20 offenses, including raping a baby, conspiring to sexually assault a child and making indecent images.
He had denied the charges but changed his plea Tuesday at Cardiff Crown Court in Wales and admitted 11 offenses, including sexually touching a 1-year-old, encouraging a groupie to abuse her child and making child pornography. He maintained that he was not guilty of the rape charge.
"He accepts he was a determined and committed pedophile," prosecutor Chris Clee told the court.
The evidence against Watkins was derived from computers and mobile phones. The court said the singer had filmed some of the abusive activity. Watkins will be sentenced on Dec. 18.
Two other women involved in the case also avoided trial by pleading guilty to charges including sexual assault and conspiracy to rape a baby.
"There will not be a trial in this case," the judge told jurors in court. "The defendants have all pleaded guilty to nearly all the charges against them. You have been saved from having to watch extremely graphic and distressing material."
Lostprophets was formed in 1997 and had a chart-topping British album in 2006 with "Liberation Transmission." They scored a No. 1 hit on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart in 2004 with "Last Train Home." In October they announced they were disbanding.
"After nearly a year of coming to terms with our heartache, we finally feel ready to announce publicly what we have thought privately for some time," a statement read. "We can no longer continue making or performing music as Lostprophets."
http://i.imgur.com/ex1tlS3.jpg
The former lead singer of British rock band Lostprophets has pleaded guilty to a series of sexual offenses, including trying to rape a baby.
Ian Watkins, 36, was arrested last December and charged with more than 20 offenses, including raping a baby, conspiring to sexually assault a child and making indecent images.
He had denied the charges but changed his plea Tuesday at Cardiff Crown Court in Wales and admitted 11 offenses, including sexually touching a 1-year-old, encouraging a groupie to abuse her child and making child pornography. He maintained that he was not guilty of the rape charge.
"He accepts he was a determined and committed pedophile," prosecutor Chris Clee told the court.
The evidence against Watkins was derived from computers and mobile phones. The court said the singer had filmed some of the abusive activity. Watkins will be sentenced on Dec. 18.
Two other women involved in the case also avoided trial by pleading guilty to charges including sexual assault and conspiracy to rape a baby.
"There will not be a trial in this case," the judge told jurors in court. "The defendants have all pleaded guilty to nearly all the charges against them. You have been saved from having to watch extremely graphic and distressing material."
Lostprophets was formed in 1997 and had a chart-topping British album in 2006 with "Liberation Transmission." They scored a No. 1 hit on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart in 2004 with "Last Train Home." In October they announced they were disbanding.
"After nearly a year of coming to terms with our heartache, we finally feel ready to announce publicly what we have thought privately for some time," a statement read. "We can no longer continue making or performing music as Lostprophets."