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Lostprophets' Ian Watkins jail term appeal considered Lostprophets' Ian Watkins jail term appeal considered
(34 minutes later)
A hearing to decide if paedophile rock star Ian Watkins can appeal against the length of his jail term for child sex offences, including the attempted rape of a baby, has begun. Judges are deciding if paedophile rock star Ian Watkins can appeal against the length of his jail term for child sex offences, including the attempted rape of a baby.
The Lostprophets singer from Pontypridd was jailed for 29 years in December, with another six years on licence.The Lostprophets singer from Pontypridd was jailed for 29 years in December, with another six years on licence.
A woman jailed alongside Watkins - the mother of a girl he abused - is seeking a cut in her 17-year sentence.A woman jailed alongside Watkins - the mother of a girl he abused - is seeking a cut in her 17-year sentence.
The applications are being heard by appeal court judges sitting in Cardiff.The applications are being heard by appeal court judges sitting in Cardiff.
A second woman, whose child was also abused by the singer, was jailed for 14 years.A second woman, whose child was also abused by the singer, was jailed for 14 years.
Watkins, 37, originally denied all the charges against him following his arrest in December 2012 but later admitted a string of offences when the case came to court 12 months later.Watkins, 37, originally denied all the charges against him following his arrest in December 2012 but later admitted a string of offences when the case came to court 12 months later.
He is not in court for the proceedings. Sally O'Neill QC, representing him is setting out the case of why he should be allowed to appeal.
She argues the sentence is "too high in the circumstances" and the proper sentence should have been less.
She said Watkins should have had a greater discount on his sentence for his guilty plea, which avoided the need for disturbing evidence to be shown in court.
Legal counsel for the woman, Simon Smith, argued an appeal was necessary on the grounds of the woman's immaturity when the offences took place.
"She was and is a lady with extremely low self esteem, she was suffering possibly post natal depression at the time of the incidents this court is concerned with," he said.
She was "living her life through fantasy".
"She has a mixed personality disorder and has formed a number of relationships through interactions over the internet," he said.
He said she had a well-documented history of depression from the age of six, and had a greater than normal need for acceptance.
'Depravity''Depravity'
Detectives found a huge cache of child abuse photos and films stored on the rock star's computers and online, almost five times the storage size of the South Wales Police force's entire computer database.Detectives found a huge cache of child abuse photos and films stored on the rock star's computers and online, almost five times the storage size of the South Wales Police force's entire computer database.
Code-cracking experts from GCHQ were called in as part of Operation Globe to break the encryption set up by the singer to cover his traces.Code-cracking experts from GCHQ were called in as part of Operation Globe to break the encryption set up by the singer to cover his traces.
Sentencing Watkins and the two women at Cardiff Crown Court in December 2013, Mr Justice Royce said the case broke "new ground" and "plunged into new depths of depravity".Sentencing Watkins and the two women at Cardiff Crown Court in December 2013, Mr Justice Royce said the case broke "new ground" and "plunged into new depths of depravity".
Watkins admitted the attempted rape and sexual assault of a child under 13 but pleaded not guilty to rape.Watkins admitted the attempted rape and sexual assault of a child under 13 but pleaded not guilty to rape.
He also admitted conspiring to rape a child, three counts of sexual assault involving children, seven involving taking, making or possessing indecent images of children and one of possessing an extreme pornographic image involving a sex act on an animal.He also admitted conspiring to rape a child, three counts of sexual assault involving children, seven involving taking, making or possessing indecent images of children and one of possessing an extreme pornographic image involving a sex act on an animal.
The two women also admitted child abuse charges.The two women also admitted child abuse charges.
The judge said Watkins had a "corrupting influence" and had shown a "complete lack of remorse".The judge said Watkins had a "corrupting influence" and had shown a "complete lack of remorse".
Meanwhile an inquiry into whether the singer's celebrity status prevented him from being brought to justice sooner is being held by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.Meanwhile an inquiry into whether the singer's celebrity status prevented him from being brought to justice sooner is being held by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
Gross misconduct notices have been served on seven police officers as part of the investigations into the handling of allegations against Watkins.Gross misconduct notices have been served on seven police officers as part of the investigations into the handling of allegations against Watkins.
They include three from South Yorkshire Police, two from Bedfordshire Police, and two from South Wales Police.They include three from South Yorkshire Police, two from Bedfordshire Police, and two from South Wales Police.