Celebrity Gossip

[Perdita]

Ex-Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins has pleaded guilty to a number of sex offences, including two counts of attempting to rape an 11-month old baby.

The 36-year-old, from Pontypridd, had been charged with 24 sex offences and the trial began today (November 26) at Cardiff Crown Court. He appeared in court alongside two female co-defendants, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

Ian Watkins
© WENN / Jenny Potter


Prosecuting barrister Chris Clee QC told the court of Watkins: "He accepts he was a determined and committed paedophile."

He added of the co-defendants: "Both women sexually abused their own children and made them available to Watkins for him to abuse."

Mr Justice Royce told the jury: "There will not be a trial in this case. The defendants have all pleaded guilty to nearly all the charges against them. The prosecution does not seek a trial in these circumstances.

"You have been saved from having to watch extremely graphic and distressing material."

Watkins denied two counts of raping an 11-month-old baby, but admitted two counts of attempting to rape the child. This was accepted by the prosecution.

He also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rape a child aged under 13, and conspiring to sexually assault a child under the age of 13.

The musician admitted several charges of possessing indecent photographs of children as well and two counts of taking indecent photographs of children dating back to 2007 and 2008. Watkins also pleaded guilty to possession of extreme pornography of a person engaged in a sex act with an animal.

He also admitted aiding and abetting one of the female co-defendants to sexually assault a child under the age of 13.

The initial charges included two separate counts of raping a baby, as well as conspiracy to rape another child, one count of sexual assault, one of aiding and abetting sexual assault by penetration and conspiracy to sexually assault a child.

Watkins, who had initially denied all 24 charges, will be sentenced on December 18.

The evidence presented in court came from mobile phones and computers and the court was told that Watkins filmed the episodes of abuse.

One of Watkins's co-defendants pleaded guilty to attempted rape of a baby after denying rape. She also admitted two counts of sexual assault and one of distributing an indecent photograph of a child.

The other pleaded guilty to conspiring to rape a child, three sexual assault charges and four charges of taking, possessing or distributing indecent images.

[Perdita]

The Professionals star Lewis Collins has died aged 67, his agent has said.

The actor, who played Bodie in the cult 1970s TV series, alongside Martin Shaw, died in Los Angeles after a five-year struggle with cancer.

His agent said: "He died peacefully at his LA home surrounded by his family. Privacy is asked for at this very sad time."

The Professionals was based around the adventures of a fictional crime fighting unit called CI5.

The ITV show became huge hit in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Collins's other notable roles included SAS captain Peter Skellen in 1982's Who Dares Wins.

Collins was quoted as saying Cubby Broccoli found him too "aggressive" to play Bond
Shaw, currently appearing in a West End production of 12 Angry Men, said he was saddened by the news of his co-star's death.

"We spent a very tough four years together in making the Professionals, and shared in the production of what has become an icon of British television," he said.

"He will be remembered as part of the childhood of so many people, and mourned by his fans. I send my love and condolences to his family, and the great many who will miss him."

Bond audition
Collins was born in May 1946 in Cheshire, and worked as a drummer and a hairdresser before breaking into acting.

Early work included roles in popular TV series such as Z Cars and The New Avengers, as well as a recurring role in The Cuckoo Waltz.

However, he became a household name with the debut of The Professionals in 1977, which ran for six years and won him a global following as hard man William Bodie.

Towards the end of The Professionals, Collins played the lead in the British thriller Who Dares Wins, as an SAS soldier who infiltrates a terrorist group.

Collins eventually moved to Los Angeles where he ran a successful computer business
Around this time, he auditioned for the role of James Bond: "I was in Albert R Broccoli's office for five minutes, but it was really over for me in seconds," he is reported to have said.

"He's expecting another Connery to walk through the door and there are few of them around."

Unlike his co-star, Collins was never able to match his success in The Professionals.

He continued working across the '80s and '90s and was last seen on screen in 2002 in The Bill.

Former Doctor Who star Colin Baker tweeted: "Sad to hear that Lewis Collins has died. He was the year below me at drama school. Had style!"

Brian Conley, who co-starred with Collins in the 1999 TV series The Grimleys, also paid his respects: "God bless Lewis Collins, my dad in The Grimleys. A great actor and a lovely man."

"The man who should have been Bond," tweeted Gary Kemp. "RIP Lewis Collins. You were supercool."

Collins leaves his wife, Michelle - whom he married in 1992 - and three sons.

The Professionals is currently being re-run on ITV4.

RIP Lewis

[sarah c]

The Professionals star Lewis Collins has died aged 67,
RIP Lewis

sad news.......my teenage crush!!! RIP Lewis

[sarah c]

...

[tammyy2j]

RIP Lewis

[Perdita]

Tributes have been paid to actor Peter O’Toole, the Leeds-raised star of the Oscar-winning epic Lawrence Of Arabia, who died on Saturday after a long illness. He grew up in Hunslet & Holbeck and started his working life at the YEP.

RIP Peter

[Perdita]

Former Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins has been jailed for 29 years, with a further six on licence, after admitting vile sex crimes against young children including attempting to rape a baby.

The shamed rock star pleaded guilty last month to 13 offences after dramatically changing his pleas on the day he was set to stand trial at Cardiff Crown Court.

This afternoon he was jailed for 29 years, with six years extended licence. He will have to serve at least two-thirds of the 29 years before he is considered for release.

There were cheers in the public gallery as the sentence was handed down by Mr Justice Royce, and Watkins was seen visibly shaking as he left the dock.

Prosecutor Chris Clee QC described him as a "determined and committed paedophile", while Mr Justice Royce said what he and his co-defendants did "plumbs new depths of depravity", and he had shown "evident delight" in abusing children.

The judge said the singer had displayed "an almost complete lack of remorse" for his behaviour, and posed a "significant risk" to young women and children.

And on hearing Watkins had told a probation officer he did not know what lengths he would have gone to with children had he not been arrested, Mr Justice Royce added: "It's difficult to imagine anything much worse."

"I am satisfied that you are a deeply corrupting influence. You are highly manipulative.

"You are a sexual predator. You are dangerous. The public, and in particular young females and children, need protection from you."

Earlier, the court had also heard how even after Watkins had admitted his horrific acts, he referred to them as "megalolz" and said "nobody got hurt".

Ringing a friend from prison the day after entering his guilty pleas, Watkins said: "It was like either me go up there and say 'Come on, it wasn't that bad, nobody got hurt'.

"I do my charm or do I end up making things worse for myself or do I just say I was off my head and can't remember?"

Discussing his possible sentence, he added: "I'm going to put out a statement on the 18th now (the day of his sentencing) just to say it was mega lolz, I don't know what everyone is getting so freaked out about."


DailyMirror

[Perdita]

Former Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins has been jailed for 29 years, with a further six on licence, after admitting vile sex crimes against young children including attempting to rape a baby.

The shamed rock star pleaded guilty last month to 13 offences after dramatically changing his pleas on the day he was set to stand trial at Cardiff Crown Court.

This afternoon he was jailed for 29 years, with six years extended licence. He will have to serve at least two-thirds of the 29 years before he is considered for release.

There were cheers in the public gallery as the sentence was handed down by Mr Justice Royce, and Watkins was seen visibly shaking as he left the dock.

Prosecutor Chris Clee QC described him as a "determined and committed paedophile", while Mr Justice Royce said what he and his co-defendants did "plumbs new depths of depravity", and he had shown "evident delight" in abusing children.

The judge said the singer had displayed "an almost complete lack of remorse" for his behaviour, and posed a "significant risk" to young women and children.

And on hearing Watkins had told a probation officer he did not know what lengths he would have gone to with children had he not been arrested, Mr Justice Royce added: "It's difficult to imagine anything much worse."

"I am satisfied that you are a deeply corrupting influence. You are highly manipulative.

"You are a sexual predator. You are dangerous. The public, and in particular young females and children, need protection from you."

Earlier, the court had also heard how even after Watkins had admitted his horrific acts, he referred to them as "megalolz" and said "nobody got hurt".

Ringing a friend from prison the day after entering his guilty pleas, Watkins said: "It was like either me go up there and say 'Come on, it wasn't that bad, nobody got hurt'.

"I do my charm or do I end up making things worse for myself or do I just say I was off my head and can't remember?"

Discussing his possible sentence, he added: "I'm going to put out a statement on the 18th now (the day of his sentencing) just to say it was mega lolz, I don't know what everyone is getting so freaked out about."


DailyMirror

[lizann]

^ sicko should be jailed for life and castrated

[sarah c]

^ sicko should be jailed for life and castrated

definately with you on the castration!!!!

( I just resent my taxes giving him three meals a day, sky tv etc for life!! - get the rope out!!!)