Music

Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins sentenced for 35 years and calls case "mega lolz"

by Mark Teo

The sordid, ever-evolving case of pedophile child rapist Ian Watkins might be coming to a close. Today, the former Lostprophets singer, who admitted to the attempted rape of two babies, was sentenced to a hefty 29-year sentence, plus an additional six years of supervised community service. Meanwhile, the accomplices to his crime—two fans simply named Woman A and Woman B, who willingly submitted their children to Watkins—received 14- and 17-year sentences, respectively.

The judge presiding over the case, Mr. Justice Royce, issued the sentence—but not before savaging Watkins.

“You had many fawning fans. That gave you power. You knew you could use that power to induce young female fans to help satisfy your insatiable lust and take part in the sexual abuse of their own children,” said the judge, according to the Daily Mail. “I am satisfied that you are a deeply corrupting influence, you are highly manipulative, you are a sexual predator, you are dangerous. The public and, in particular, young females need protection from you.”

While receiving his sentencing, Watkins was unemotional—consistent with reports that he appeared unrepentant during his trial. Christopher Clee, the prosecuting lawyer, brought a recorded conversation Watkins had with a friend to the court, which seemed to be equal parts exasperated, arrogant, and unremorseful.

“I’m going to put out a statement on the 18th [the day of his sentencing] just to say it was mega lolz,” Watkins says in the conversation, which occurred while he was awaiting sentencing. Lostprophets, meanwhile, have used the term “mega lolz” as part of their concert backsplashes and on shirts. “I do not know what everybody is getting so freaked out about.”

When Watkins was advised that it might be risky calling child-rape allegations “mega lolz,” he replied glibly. “It is just lol now.”

Next, the friend asked him about why he pled guilty, Watkins offered up this explanation: “It was like either I go up there and say: ‘Come on it was not that bad. Nobody got hurt ….  There is a lot of fucking bullsit chat I did to shock when I was off my head. There was no medical evidence. I’m not a pedophile, I’m not. You know I’ve plead guilty just to avoid a trial. I would never harm anybody.”

It was a statement that Watkins’ defence team backed up. Before the courts, they implied that Watkins was set up by fans, who took advantage of him while he was high. ”

“Watkins received constant attention from fans and when they had that attention they would do anything to keep it,” said Watkins’ lawyer, Sally O’Neill. “He would not be the first rockstar to find that a heady mix, nor the first or last to take advantage of it.”

O’Neill also claimed that Watkins had no memories of his indiscretions—or touring in 2009. “‘From 2009 he became quite addicted to a variety of drugs which lead to him having no memory of being on tour with the group and his actions continued when he was at home.”

Then, later, his lawyer would add that “Watkins claimed his personality meant he did nothing by halves and so his drug use quickly escalated…. There was his arrogance because of the position he was in which lead to his inability to adhere with societies boundaries.”

Meanwhile, the Daily Mail adds that the police is investigating potential sex crimes Watkins allegedly committed in Germany and the U.S.

“Offending against children does not get any worse,” detective chief Peter Doyle told the paper. “We are not talking about children of any age here, we are talking about babies. I don’t know what he is not capable of.'”

The live updates from the court are available right here.

UPDATE: Read the full transcript of the sentencing right here. Warning: It’s not for the faint of heart.