Ian Watkins, former frontman of the rock band Lostprophets, was convicted in 2013 for an appalling set of child sex offences. He pleaded guilty to 13 charges, which included attempted rape of a baby, sexual touching of a one-year-old, encouraging a fan to abuse her own child via webcam, and creating, possessing, and distributing indecent images – including some of his own making.
The judge in the case described his actions as “new depths of depravity,” noting the organised, ruthless nature of his abuse. Last Saturday he received the ultimate punishment, when two fellow prisoners in Wakefield Prison stabbed the pervert to death. Amongst prison inmates, even those who have committed horrific crimes, paedophiles are seen as the lowest of the low.
Yet behind the shocking abuse involved lies a damning question: why was Watkins not brought to justice much sooner, given the warnings, evidence, and cries for help reported to the police preceding his arrest? As early as 2008, five years before his conviction, his then-partner, Joanne Mjadzelics, made reports to the police, including showing a message from Watkins that expressed his desire to abuse children.
Those reports were dismissed or minimised by senior police officers – often on grounds that his partner was not credible. How reminiscent of the rape gang investigations, where the young victims were treated like prostitutes and liars by the police. Thousands of young lives were destroyed because of the cowardice and political correctness of the people paid to protect them.
Despite all the protestations of ‘it can’t happen again‘ and half-hearted apologies, does anyone believe it can’t happen again? The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) later found that South Wales Police had missed “numerous opportunities” between 2008 and 2012 to investigate Watkins properly.
Poor record-keeping, weak intelligence handling, slow or non-existent investigations of third-party reports (as opposed to direct victims), and a lack of urgency even with allegations that serious were highlighted.
One particularly damning detail came to light: although Ms Mjadzelics reported a message from Watkins in 2008, police did not examine the phone evidence because they judged her report as potentially “malicious.”
What emerges is not just the horror of what Watkins did, but the disgust at a system that allowed the abuse to continue longer than it needed. The warnings, the disturbingly explicit messages, the chance for intervention – all were ignored or delayed. In hindsight, the police were given multiple red flags. But rather than act, they fumbled. A celebrity identity, disbelief, procedural slackness and oversight – these became shields that masked true danger.
We must ask: how many more victims have suffered because of institutional hesitance? How many abusers might still be walking free because of similar failures on the part of our woke police? A hurty tweet and they’ll be smashing your door in the next morning. Abuse young children and you’ll be at liberty for years.
Watkins was eventually arrested after a drugs warrant search in 2012 turned up a vast array of storage devices containing evidence. He was sentenced to 29 years in prison, with an additional six on licence. Few people will cry over his ultimate fate.
Watkins eventually pled guilty to 13 sexual offences.
Two counts of attempted rape of an 11-month-old baby (he denied actual rape but admitted attempted rape.
Sexual assault of a child under 13.
Aiding and abetting a female co-defendant to sexually assault a child under 13.
Conspiracy to rape a child under 13.
Conspiracy to sexually assault a child under 13.
Making, taking, distributing, or possessing indecent images of children. Multiple counts.
Possession of an extreme pornographic image involving a sex act with an animal.
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