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| Lostprophets' Ian Watkins jail term appeal refused | Lostprophets' Ian Watkins jail term appeal refused |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Judges have thrown out an appeal by paedophile rock star Ian Watkins to reduce the length of his jail term for child sex offences. | Judges have thrown out an appeal by paedophile rock star Ian Watkins to reduce the length of his jail term for child sex offences. |
| 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. |
| Appeal judges said his offences were "of such shocking depravity that they demanded a lengthy prison sentence". | Appeal judges said his offences were "of such shocking depravity that they demanded a lengthy prison sentence". |
| A woman jailed alongside Watkins - the mother of a girl he abused - also saw a cut in her 17-year sentence refused. | A woman jailed alongside Watkins - the mother of a girl he abused - also saw a cut in her 17-year sentence refused. |
| A second woman, whose child was also abused by the singer, was jailed for 14 years and did not appeal. | A second woman, whose child was also abused by the singer, was jailed for 14 years and did not appeal. |
| Watkins, 37, denied all the charges against him when he was arrested in December 2012 but later admitted a string of offences when the case came to court 12 months later. | Watkins, 37, denied all the charges against him when he was arrested in December 2012 but later admitted a string of offences when the case came to court 12 months later. |
| He was not in court for the appeal proceedings and Sally O'Neill QC, representing him, argued his sentence was too high. | He was not in court for the appeal proceedings and Sally O'Neill QC, representing him, argued his sentence was too high. |
| She said that while his offences were very serious, they were "not the worst that can happen". | She said that while his offences were very serious, they were "not the worst that can happen". |
| 'Depravity' | 'Depravity' |
| She also claimed Watkins should have had a greater sentence discount for his guilty plea, which avoided the need for disturbing evidence to be shown in court. | She also claimed Watkins should have had a greater sentence discount for his guilty plea, which avoided the need for disturbing evidence to be shown in court. |
| Simon Smith, defending the woman, argued an appeal was necessary on the grounds of the woman's immaturity when the offences took place. | Simon Smith, defending the woman, argued an appeal was necessary on the grounds of the woman's immaturity when the offences took place. |
| He said she lived her life through fantasy and was compliant with Ian Watkins because of his fame. | He said she lived her life through fantasy and was compliant with Ian Watkins because of his fame. |
| But Lord Justice Pitchford, sitting at Cardiff Crown Court with two other appeal court judges, rejected that argument. | |
| He said the woman had "willing corruptibility" and "offered her child as a sacrifice for Watkins continued interest in her". | He said the woman had "willing corruptibility" and "offered her child as a sacrifice for Watkins continued interest in her". |
| Commenting on Watkins' case, the lord justice said: "These were offences against infant children of such shocking depravity that a very lengthy sentence of imprisonment was demanded, not withstanding the absence of physical injury. | Commenting on Watkins' case, the lord justice said: "These were offences against infant children of such shocking depravity that a very lengthy sentence of imprisonment was demanded, not withstanding the absence of physical injury. |
| "It is not demonstrated that the total sentence of 29 years together with the extended licence period was arguably manifestly excessive. Accordingly, the application in his case is refused." | "It is not demonstrated that the total sentence of 29 years together with the extended licence period was arguably manifestly excessive. Accordingly, the application in his case is refused." |
| During the police investigation detectives found a huge cache of child abuse photos and films stored on the rock star's computers and online. | During the police investigation detectives found a huge cache of child abuse photos and films stored on the rock star's computers and online. |
| It was almost five times the storage size of the South Wales Police force's entire computer database. | It was almost five times the storage size of the South Wales Police force's entire computer database. |
| 'Corrupting influence' | 'Corrupting influence' |
| 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. |
| 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. |