Following the arrest and conviction of ex-Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins on thirteen child sex related crimes back in December of 2013, the Independent Police Complaints Commission launched an inquiry into the South Wales Police in regards to their then alleged failure to act on various tips regarding Watkins‘ troubling behavior that were submitted earlier.
That investigation has since concluded and found that the police did in fact fail to treat previously filed tips regarding Watkins properly. The BBC report that the commission found that police did not properly act on eight reports and three intelligence logs from six people regarding Watkins‘ behavior between 2008 and 2012.
Those reports can be found over at WalesOnline and include disturbing allegations of Watkins grooming underage individuals for sex on social media, partaking in underage sex with fans and filming it, as well as smuggling drugs in his body cavity. It wasn’t until an 2012 drug warrant was served at his Pontypridd home that police began to actively investigate Watkins.
South Wales Police Assistant Chief Constable Jeremy Vaughan commented of the commission’s findings:
“Today’s report highlights a number of failings in which information about Watkins was investigated between 2008 and 2012 which the force entirely accepts and regrets. South Wales Police failed to listen and properly investigate information about Watkins’ offending behavior, for this we are truly sorry.”
Among those whose complaints were not actively investigated were former girlfriend Joanne Mjadzelics, who was later put on trial and cleared on seven counts of child sex abuse image possession regarding her online interactions with Watkins. Mjadzelics claimed that she had engaged with Watkins at the time to get evidence to present to the police. She has stated that she is looking into further legal action in light of the the commission’s findings.
Watkins is currently serving out a 35-year prison sentence for his crimes.
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