In recent weeks we have read the extensive news reports about Ian Watkins, Welsh singer from the band Lostprophets, and the shocking details of his alleged sexual abuse of young children, including the reprehensible attempted rape of a baby.
After previously denying the allegations, Ian Watkins admitted to 11 of the 24 charges brought against him and will be sentenced along with two female fans who sexually abused their own children at his request.
Detective Chief Inspector Peter Doyle of South Wales Police said, “This investigation has uncovered the most shocking and harrowing child abuse evidence I’ve ever seen. Today’s outcome does not mark the end of our investigations and we will work tirelessly to identify any other victims.”
Ian Watkins is now facing the prospect of lengthy jail sentence, but questions are now being raised as to whether or not he could have been stopped sooner.
Initial reports involving Ian Watkins date back to 2008 and it has emerged that his girlfriend at the time contacted police on numerous occasions about his behaviour. It is now being investigated whether or not the police could have acted sooner to prevent the singer from continuing to offend.
As solicitors specialising in abuse claims, we know that for victims of abuse, coming forward about their experiences is an extremely difficult hurdle to overcome, regardless of the profile of the abuser. This would no doubt only be intensified for victims of high profile figures. It can only be hoped that victims can find comfort in the fact that, through admitting and talking about the abuse, they may find some release.
At Farleys, we have a dedicated department to help victims of abuse claim compensation. To talk to a member of our team about how you could pursue a claim at no cost to you, please do not hesitate to get in contact.
By Jonathan Bridge, Child Abuse Compensation Lawyer