Ian Watkins: A determined and committed paedophile PIC: South Wales Police
Ian Watkins: A determined and committed paedophile PIC: South Wales Police South wales Police

Paving slabs engraved with lyrics by paedophile rocker Ian Watkins are to be ripped up from the home town of the disgraced Lostprophets frontman.

They were laid in Pontypridd only last year, but now the words "Every time I walk these streets I know they're mine" have gained a sinister new slant.

Watkins, 36, was exposed as a predatory child sex abuser who used his status as a pop star to wield power over fans.

The lyrics, with their connotations of possession and ownership, have to go, said a Welsh politician.

Welsh Assembly member Mick Antoniw said: "You can't have the words of a paedophile written in a public place.

"Everyone will almost certainly agree that the best action is to have the words removed from this public place discreetly, with the connotations they now have.

"The words were originally inscribed there to take pride in the achievements of a local band, and everyone has been shocked and astonished by the news that has followed."

WalesOnline reported that the slabs were put down as part of a £50m regeneration scheme by Rhondda council. That was before Watkins' reputation was destroyed by the revelations of his crimes.

A Rhondda Cynon Taf Council confirmed that the slabs would be up ripped up and destroyed. A spokesman said: "Granite paving featuring song lyrics written by convicted paedophile Ian Watkins will be removed from the streetscape of Pontypridd as soon as possible."

Watkins is awaiting sentencing after confessing to 13 child sex crimes, including two counts of attempted rape of a baby and one of a child.