Complaint claims police knew of Ian Watkins abuse from December 2008

Documents obtained by investigative reporter Mark Williams-Thomas claim police were made aware of abuse allegations against the former lead singer of the Lostprophets as early as 2008.

A complaint to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), from Ian Watkins' ex-girlfriend Joanna Majic, claims that she first contacted South Wales Police on December 29, 2008, along with her assertion that allegations of abuse were not acted on quickly enough.

Among the documents, more recent police emails also reveal that on October 10, 2012 Bedfordshire Police held a meeting with social services and a GP after officers received a tip off from Joanna Majic. It says a medical examination was arranged for a child, and the results were passed to South Wales Police. According to the email from an investigating officer into police standards, officers did not press further to seize computers and storage media because they did not believe a magistrate would issue a warrant.

Officers from Bedfordshire Police are yet to comment.

Yesterday, Watkins pleaded guilty to attempting to rape a baby along with a series of other abuse charges. But among the documents made available to ITV News, a series of emails to and from Watkins' ex-girlfriend appear to reveal a prior conversation discussing a "plan to rape a baby".

In the email trail, Watkins appears to respond to the claims of a plan, writing:

Meanwhile, an image that appears to show the former Lostprophets lead singer with a baby was pulled off the internet last night following complaints to police.

The photo was removed from the web following complaints made to officers by Mark Williams-Thomas. A court order had previously been issued to protect the identity of children involved in the case.

Chief Superintendent Tim Jones, head of South Wales Police’s Professional Standards Department, said:

Bedfordshire Police said: