Ian Watkins’ 39-Year Jail Term Appeal To Be Considered

Convicted Pedophile and former Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins will appear in court today asking to appeal against the length of his jail term for child sex offences, including the attempted rape of a baby.

In December, the 37-year-old was sentenced to a total of 35 years in prison after pleading guilty to counts of conspiring to rape a child, three counts of sexual assault involving children, seven involving indecent images of children and one of possessing an extreme pornographic image involving a sex act on an animal. He pleaded not guilty to the rape charge.

Two other women, identified as the mothers of the children he abused, were also jailed for 14 and 17 years respectively. Watkins and one of those women will have their appeal applications heard by three appeal court judges sitting in Cardiff. They will decide whether he can take the appeal further.

According to the UK’s Telegraph, Watkins is not contesting his 13 convictions but is arguing that he was treated too harshly by sentencing judge Mr Justice Royce. At the time of sentence Justice Royce, told Watkins and the two mothers in the case, “What you three did plumbs new depths of depravity.”

“Any decent person looking at or listening to material here would experience shock, revulsion, anger and incredulity,” he added. “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.”

The hearing comes as the remaining members of the Lostprophets made their live debut in Cardiff this week under their new name, No Devotion, with former Thursday singer Geoff Rickly as their new frontman.

Guitarist Richard Oliver posted a statement on Instagram prior to the show. “It is obvious that the easier path would have been to slink into the shadows and quietly fade into obscurity,” he wrote. “Today with courage we wear our hearts on our sleeves and add a new chapter to this story, one which can allow us to hold our heads high and face the world again as musicians.”

Must Read