Photo:
An officer who investigated Ian Watkins' child sex abuse charges has been issued with 'gross misconduct' notices by a police watchdog.
Earlier this week (Tuesday 26 November, 2013), former Lostprophets frontman Watkins admitted charges of attempting to rape a baby, as well as the sexual assault of a child under 13. He also admitted three counts of sexual assault involving children and six involving taking, making and possessing indecent images of children and one of possessing an extreme pornographic image involving a sex act on an animal. The court was told how Watkins had extreme illegal pornography on his computers, had boasted of wanting to blow meth smoke in a baby's face, and even filmed encounters he'd had with 16-year-old Lostprophets fans in school uniforms.
Read the full report from the trial here.
Back in February this year, the Independent Police Complaints Commission launched an investigation to ascertain whether or not South Wales Police acted quickly enough after receiving information about Watkins' abuse claims.
Now, the IPCC have revealed to NME that the investigation relates to an officer, tangled up in a separate event that involves the alleged rape of a 15-year-old girl.
"The IPCC investigation into whether or not South Wales Police failed to take appropriate and timely action in relation to information they were in receipt of in advance of Mr Watkins' subsequent arrest is ongoing," they said.
"We are considering matters dating back to 2008. At this stage the investigation is focused on the actions of one officer, a detective sergeant who is also being investigated in another case where it is alleged he failed to act on an allegation that a 15-year-old girl had been raped. That remains ongoing."
They added: "The detective sergeant has been served with gross misconduct notices advising him that his conduct is subject to investigation."
Yesterday, the ex-girlfriend of shamed Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins has spoken out about her attempts to warn police about his threats of child abuse.
Joanna Majic has told the Daily Mirror of her 'on-off' relationship with Watkins from 2006, but claims "everything changed for us when he confided in me that he wanted to abuse children in 2008."
Former-callgirl Majic, 28, continued: "I went straight to South Wales police then and made a complaint but they ignored me and said I needed evidence."
Ian Watkins, 35 from Pontypridd, will be sentenced on 18 December, 2013.
.jpg)
