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Former Lostprophets singer and convicted paedophile Ian Watkins is alleged to have earned up to a staggering£100,000 in royalties from his band's music since he was arrested for child sex offences in 2012. 

Last month, 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. 

Now, it is claimed that he has earned tens of thousands of pounds since his arrest last year. Songwriters in Britain are entitled to a cut of the profits whenever their music is played on TV, radio or online through a licensing agreement with the Performing Rights Society.

"The biggest income stream will almost certainly be publishing which, even if radio play has stopped, will still be pretty big," said music lawyer Craig Brookes, speaking to Wales on Sunday.  

"So you’re going to get money for plays in gyms and hairdressers and on juke boxes and all that stuff."

It is reported that the increase in plays of Lostprophets' music can be contributed to TV and radio plays in reporting his crimes.

Mr Brookes added: "The records could be earning a substantial amount. It could easily have translated to 100,000 or 200,000 extra sales. It could be easily over £100,000."

Ian Watkins, 35 from Pontypridd, will be sentenced on Wednesday (18 December, 2013).