Lostprophets lead singer admits sex offenses

ASSOCIATED PRESS

11 years ago

This is a Saturday, Aug 20, 2011 file photo of British musician Ian Watkins, lead singer of Lostprophets, as he performs on stage at V Music Festival in Hylands Park, Chelmsford, England Watkins pleaded guilty on Tuesday Nov. 26. 2013 to a series of sexual offenses, including trying to rape a baby. Watkins, 36, was arrested last December and charged with more than 20 offenses, including raping a baby, conspiring to sexually assault a child and and making indecent images. (AP Photo/Joel Ryan, File)

LONDON — The former lead singer of British rock band Lostprophets has pleaded guilty to a series of sexual offenses, including trying to rape a baby.

Ian Watkins, 36, was arrested last December and charged with more than 20 offenses, including raping a baby, conspiring to sexually assault a child and making indecent images.

He had denied the charges but changed his plea Tuesday at Cardiff Crown Court and admitted 11 offenses, including sexually touching a 1-year-old, encouraging a groupie to abuse her child and making child pornography.

Watkins will be sentenced on Dec. 18.

Lostprophets — which formed in 1997 and had a chart-topping album in 2006 with “Liberation Transmission” — announced it was disbanding after Watkins’ arrest.