Ian Watkins (born 30 July 1977) is a Welsh convicted sex offender and former singer, songwriter, and musician.
He achieved prominence as the co-founder, lead vocalist, and lyricist of the rock band Lostprophets. Rock band Lostprophets disbanded shortly thereafter and the remaining members formed the band No Devotion, with American singer Geoff Rickly replacing Watkins.
On 19 December 2012, Watkins was charged at Cardiff magistrates court with conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a one-year-old girl and possession and or distribution of indecent images of children and "extreme animal pornography".
He was remanded in custody, as were his two female co-accused.
On 18 December 2013, Justice John Royce sentenced Watkins to 29 years in prison, with eligibility to apply for parole after serving two-thirds of his prison term, around 18 years or so, followed by six years of supervised release, for multiple sexual offences, including the sexual assault of young children.
His two co-defendants, the mothers of his victims, respectively received sentences of 14 and 17 years’ imprisonment.
