Former Lostprophets Singer Ian Watkins Admits Baby Rape Bid

Former Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins has pleaded guilty to a string of sex offences, including two counts of attempting to rape a baby.

Watkins, 36, of Pontypridd, admitted to 11 offences at Cardiff Crown Court, including attempting to rape a child, sexually assaulting a child under 13 and aiding and abetting a female co-defendant to sexually assault a child under 13.

He also pleaded guilty to six charges of possesing, making and taking indecent photographs of children.

Watkins also admitted possessing extreme pornography depicting a person engaging in a sex act with an animal.

The rock singer had previously denied a total of 24 charges against him.

Watkins was accused with two other female suspects aged 21 and 24 who cannot be named for legal reasons. They also pleaded guilty to all charges against them.

The court heard how the attempted rape of the 11-month-old child by Watkins was recorded on a camcorder at a hotel along with the child's mother, in Shepherds Bush in April 2012.

Watkins and the mother also discussed "whoring out" the child and plying them with crack cocaine.

'Most shocking and harrowing child abuse'

Prosecuting barrister Chris Clee described Watkins as "a determined and committed paedophile".

All three suspects are due to be sentenced on 18 December.

Before the trial started, Judge Justice Royce warned the jury that they may have to watch some "very graphic material".

Det chief insp Peter Doyle, of South Wales Police, described the investigation as the "most shocking and harrowing child abuse evidence I've ever seen".

He added: "There is no doubt in my mind that Ian Watkins exploited his celebrity status in order to abuse young children."

Catrin Evans, head of complex sasework unit for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said: "The three defendants in this case have admitted very serious sexual offences committed against extremely young children, demonstrating sexual exploitation at its worst.

"A number of the victims are too young to be able to understand what has happened to them, yet the defendants exploited them for their own gratification."

In October, the rest of the band announced they are to break up after 15 years following "a year of coming to terms with our heartache".

The band sold more than 3.5 million albums worldwide and released their fifth and final album, Weapons, in 2012.