criiminality:

REAL LIFE BOOGEYMAN: Ian Watkins, former frontman of the band Lostprophets, is a convicted child sex offender. In 2012, he was arrested and charged with a string of sex crimes against children, including the attempted rape of a one-year-old boy and conspiracy to rape a one-year-old girl; the victims’ mothers were also charged. 

After Watkins’ arrest, authorities discovered over 100 indecent images of children and animals in his possession. According to court documents, the content on his laptop was locked with the password  “I FUK KIDZ”. Phone records show that he sent a text message to one of the mothers saying, “If you belong to me, so does your baby.” Most incriminating is Watkins’ personal video footage: in one clip, he and a female fan can be seen sexually assaulting her one-year-old son. In another, Watkins encourages a woman via Skype as she abuses her daughter.

In November 2013, Watkins pleaded guilty and was subsequently sentenced to 29 years imprisonment and 6 years on extended license. He is currently incarcerated in HMP Wakefield, an English prison notoriously dubbed “Monster Mansion” due to its number of high-risk sex offenders. 

Ian Watkins utilized his fame and power in order to gain access to fans and their children. Because of the sheer scope of Watkins’ travels and exploits, the true number of victims remains unknown.   

In his sentencing remarks, Justice John Royce noted that this case “plumbed new depths of depravity”, and that Ian Watkins is a highly manipulative and deeply corrupting influence. A full transcript of the remarks can be found here.