GUILTY UK - Ian Watkins for sex abuse, child *advertiser censored*, Pontypridd, Wales, 2012

[graceholl]

Mitigation for Ian Watkins

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 3m
Watkins remaining impassive but occasionally glances up at the ceiling from the dock

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 42s
Defence says in mitigation... Watkins pleaded guilty and thereby avoided the need for a trial.... should be given credit

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 35s
Defence "one of the features of his case is the use of social media".... includes Watkins being bombarded by fans trying to "hit on him"

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 27s
Defence seem to be arguing that Watkins claimed he was being "set-up"

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 1m
Judge saying it is obvious that videos "depict horrific sexual abuse" and that it is "wholly unrealistic" that he didn't know what he did

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Judge not having the Defence mitigation argument

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Defence asking the judge to consider how the videos came to be made. again suggesting obsessive fans played a part

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Defence now using Watkins addiction to drugs, having no memory of events, as an argument in mitigation

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 37s
"he couldn't believe that he had done that" because say defence he has no memory of the attempted rapes

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 44s
"safe to say the child will have no memory of the event" in the video because of the age.

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 2m
Judge tells defence "this is not a fantasy..... they (mothers) have pleaded to an intention to rape"

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 55s
Watkins has been "vilified"... most of the comment is "sensationalist" say Watkins' barrister.

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 1m
He should be sentenced not for who he is but for what he has done argues his barrister.

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 16s
Watkins has been on 15 minute suicide checks throughout his time on remand

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The age of the children is "significantly aggravating feature" submit defence

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 1m
also arguing that Watkins did not groom the mothers to produce their children for abuse but crime was a joint enterprise

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 2m
Psychiatric assessment suggests Watkins preoccupied with sex generally and not specifically sex with a child

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 55s
Watkins is "ashamed" and "appalled" by what has happened says his lawyer

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 1m
"some of mitigation may be uncomfortable"... i have "not attempted to minimise" the seriousness of these offences says QC

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Watkins already been in custody for almost a year. He has "fallen very hard" says QC

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 15s
Watkins has no previous convictions

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 23s
Watkins finds it "hard to believe but accepts the reality of what has happened". Mother's defence mitigation now starting

 

[graceholl]

Mitigation for Mother A

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 49s
Mother A was "manipulated and corrupted" by her co-defendant to "facilitate" his sexual desire. She is "deeply remorseful"

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 1m
Mother A feels "disgust for what she did" she was "frightened of losing him".

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 9s
Defence for Mother A "having once been to this very dark place she is unlikely to revisit it"

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 23s
Mother A has "pleaded guilty to being a secondary party" on the attempted rapes

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 48s
Mother A defence says there is nothing he can put forward that affects her culpability she fully accepts responsibilty

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 1m
Judge "potential psychological damage is immense" to the children. #watkins

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 49s
Judge to Mother A QC "look at the facts of this case, the planning is chilling" #watkins

Mitigation for Mother B

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 43s
Mother B defence argument in mitigation now

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 26s
Mother B was also a fan of Ian Watkins. Mother B "couldn't believe Watkins was interested in her"

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 4m
"you and your daughter now belong to me" Watkins told Mother B in a message

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 3m
Mother B defence repeating submission heard earlier that "your lordship sentences on the basis of the reality"

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 3m
Judge to Mother B QC "she lied consistently about meeting up" with Watkins

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 54s
both Mother A and B have sat staring straight ahead inside the glass covered dock throughout the hearing

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 1m
Mother B defence on drugs, Meth A, in child's hair "simply shows exposed" and not taken by the child

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 45s
Judge "i find that a little hard to swallow" having listened to submission about traces of drugs found in child's hair

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 3m
Judge "can see obvious enjoyment the mother gets" from the abuse of her child. Mother B defence disputes this

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 7s
judge "this is a classic case that the evidence is so overwhelming there shouldn't be credit"

 

[Little Jedi]

:christmastree:
Thank You so much graceholl, for keeping us all up to date, with not only this case but all the other you have spent the time & effort on !!

:santahat: Wishing you a Merry Christmas

 

[graceholl]

:christmastree:
Thank You so much graceholl, for keeping us all up to date, with not only this case but all the other you have spent the time & effort on !!

:santahat: Wishing you a Merry Christmas

Thank you so much! That is very sweet of you :loveyou:

Wishing you & yours a very merry Christmas too! :christmastree:

 

[graceholl]

''Mega lolz': How unrepentant Lostprophets paedophile Ian Watkins described his crimes in phone conversation with woman from prison"

In a phone call from Park Prison with a woman named Samantha on November 27 he said his crimes were ‘not that bad’ and said he had considered trying to trick a jury into believing he was innocent using his ‘charm’.
‘It was like either me go up there and say come on it wasn’t that bad. Do I try to win them over with my charm? Or do I just make things worse for myself saying I was off my head, I can’t remember,’ he said.
Describing his abuse of children, he added: ‘It was mega lolz. I don’t know what everyone is getting so freaked out about.’
A day later, on November 28, he again showed no remorse, describing himself as a victim.
He told the same friend: ‘It’s so hard. There is a lot of *advertiser censored***** bulls*** chat I did to shock when I was off my head. There was no medical evidence. I’m not a paedophile, I’m not. You know I’ve plead guilty just to avoid a trial. I would never harm anybody.’
‘When I go for sentencing I’m going to release a statement,’ he said. When advised not to say it was ‘mega lols’, he responded: ‘It’s just lols now.’



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...s-against-Ian-Watkins-2008.html#ixzz2npULSYyP

 

[graceholl]

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 45s
Judge is going to reflect on the submissions and sentence at 1400 [GMT]

I'm taking my lunch break now so will resume posting tweets then

 

[Perodicticus potto]

Watkins being bombarded by fans trying to "hit on him"

What, like every pop star ever?

 

[Little Jedi]

''Mega lolz': How unrepentant Lostprophets paedophile Ian Watkins described his crimes in phone conversation with woman from prison"

:gasp: OMG

What a Sick ******

 

[graceholl]

Sentencing

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 41m
Back in court. Sentencing due in a few minutes #watkins

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 27m
Judge "this case breaks new ground" "what you three did plumbed new depths of depravity"

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 27m
Judge "you knew you could use that power to partake in insatiable lust"

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 26m
hearing some details too graphic to report about Watkins sexual activities

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 25m
Judge to Mother A 'you are mother, your infant was 10 months old, a mother naturally loves... cherishes... you totally betrayed that trust"

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 23m
Abhorrent details from the judge on the planning between Mother A and Watkins... "could there have been a greater betrayal" says judge

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 22m
Judge "what you are doing is both sickening and incomprehensible" #watkins

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 20m
Watkins and Mother B now... Judge says watkins told the mother about the child "that's all she will know a life of filth"

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 19m
In the dock watkins is sitting, barely moving, staring straight at the judge as are the 2 mothers

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 18m
Mother A is entitled to one third discount for her early plea.

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 16m
Watkins appears to be occasionally shaking in the dock,

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 15m
Judge says Watkins clearly has "delight" in engaging in sexual activity with tiny children

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 14m
Judge "i have no hesitation in concluding there is a serious risk to the public"

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 9m
Judge reading a report which says child will eventually learn what happened as a young child

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 8m
Watkins now continually shaking in the dock

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 7m
sentences now...

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 5m
14 years for Mother A

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 4m
Mother B gets 17 years

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 4m
Watkins now

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 1m
35 years in prison for Paedophile Ian Watkins, former lead singer of the lost prophets

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 31s
shout from inside court "hang the *advertiser censored*"

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 21s
Watkins will have to serve two thirds of his 35 year sentence before he can be considered for release

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 9s
some confusion in court about sentence.... even barrister says confusing. seems like 29 years custodial followed by 6 years on licence

Rupert Evelyn ‏@rupertevelyn 4s
Right.... 29 years inside. extended period of licence of 6 years. two thirds of sentence before parole board calculated on the 29 years

 

[graceholl]

I don't give it long until he's dead. Either at the hands of other prisoners or his own.

 

[graceholl]

EXTREMELY GRAPHIC CONTENT -

Sentencing Remarks
http://www.judiciary.gov.uk/Resources/JCO/Documents/Judgments/r-v-watkins-and-others.pdf

 

[Pisces Cloud]

I wish we'd see more lengthy sentences like this concerning child abuse cases.

 

[AstroKitty]

I haven't read through this thread yet, but it was well known he was having sex with younger girls. I was a merch girl on tour with a bigger group than his - in the UK, that his band opened for. He gives you the weird feelings. Everyone knew. No one liked him. It was well established online in the scene community that he was a pedo and liked animals. It's probably still out there if you google around for it. It's sick but common in "scene music" where the majority of fan girls are under 18. Blood on the Dancer floor is another that comes to mind (and yes, the singer was convicted! and still tours and still has young members backstage)

Ian can ROT.

 

[Little Jedi]

I don't give it long until he's dead. Either at the hands of other prisoners or his own.

I agree, sounds like he wasn't expecting anything like that from the increasing "shaking in the dock"
I think he'll be kept on suicide watch for some time.
Mind you I wouldn't bother, just let him get on with it.

 

[zwiebel]

He got 29 years! Women got 14 and 17.

I just heard it on the radio. I didn't know sentencing was today. Thanks so much, graceholl. I'm going to read back through now.

 

[tlcya]

The sentencing remarks were a rough read.

 

[Leilei]

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/ian-watkins-lostprophets-singer-describes-6417103

"After admitting abusing children, including babies, in court the paedophile added: "I don't know what everyone is getting worked up about."

Ugh. REALLY? Can we just launch him into orbit without a space suit?

 

[Deleted member 96356]

So his lawyer said Watkins is shocked and appalled about this... but tells a fan it's mega lolz.
And then his lawyer says most of this is sensationalist... but you see the sentencing remarks (not media reports, not tweets, not blog postings) and if anyone in their right mind could dismiss this as "sensationalist" then I don't know what to say.

I'm glad he was sentenced. Too bad it wasn't for the rest of his remaining days. The mothers got off way too light, imo. They should all be hung. :twocents:

Now the focus can turn to these dear children, guiding them through a lifetime of healing.

 

[Pisces Cloud]

Let's hope the children will now be placed in a good environment and receive proper counselling.

 

[zwiebel]

I haven't found a newspaper link yet, but I also heard on the radio the investigation/search for victims is still continuing, in the US and (gulp) Germany?