Singer admits baby rape attempt
The Welsh rock singer Ian Watkins has pleaded guilty to 11 sex offences, including two charges of attempting to rape a baby.
The extent of the former Lostprophets frontman's actions came to light today when the Cardiff Crown Court heard the details of the individual charges.
ITV News reporter Rupert Evelyn:
“This investigation has uncovered the most shocking and harrowing child abuse evidence I have ever seen,” Detective Chief Inspector Peter Doyle said.
The offences included sexually touching a one-year-old, possessing and making child porn and encouraging a crazed groupie to abuse her own child during a sordid webcam chat.
A footage of the 36 year-old singer performing a sex act on a child was also discussed in the court.
Watkins insisted he had no memory of what would have been key video evidence at the trial, the court heard.
Visibly shaken, gray-haired Watkins admitted to launching a plot to drug and rape a baby. He has been labelled a "determined and committed paedophile" by the prosecution.
Read: Watkins 'exploited celebrity status' police say
Des Mannion, head of the child protection charity NSPCC Wales spoke of his horror as the details of the case were made public.
"The desire to sexually abuse small babies is something most of us find too horrific to comprehend," Mannion said.
The singer previously denied all charges and only changed his plea shortly before the trial was to start.
The 22 potential jurors were visibly relieved when told by Mr Justice Royce that their services would no longer be required, following the last-minute plea change.
Two female co-defendants in the case also pleaded guilty to charges of child abuse.
The court was told that the two women sexually abused their own children and made them available to Watkins for him to abuse.
The two were identified only as "Woman A" and "Woman B" in order to protect the identities of their children, the victims in the case.
Read: Two women charged with Watkins admit child abuse**
Watkins' former bandmates have expressed their relief that Watkins had pleaded guilty. “At least there is closure now,” guitarist Lee Gaze said on his Twitter.
The pleas do not mark the end of the investigation as the police believe that Watkins may have abused other victims.
“We will work tirelessly to identify any other victims or witnesses and seek the justice they deserve,” said Peter Doyle, a senior inspector in the case.