Sign up for our Crime and Punishment Newsletter The inside stories on the latest court stories from Wales Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins has pleaded guilty to 13 sexual offences, including two of attempting to rape a baby.

Watkins today admitted he was a paedophile as he pleaded guilty to a range of child sex charges.

The 36-year-old rock star also admitted conspiring to rape another child as he dramatically changed his pleas on the day he was set to stand trial at Cardiff Crown Court.

Prosecutor Chris Clee QC said Watkins was a "determined and committed paedophile".

DCI Peter Doyle of South Wales Police said: "This investigation has uncovered the most shocking and harrowing child abuse evidence I've ever seen."

He said police will now "work tirelessly" to discover whether Watkins had any further victims.

His two female co-defendants also admitted a string of sex abuse charges against their own children.

The court heard how he sent messages to to one of his co-defendants talking of how he wanted "to cross the line".

When she responded with "A summer of incest and child porn" he replied: "Hell yes baby."

He told her: "The sooner we start training her the better."

And there was a conversation about "whoring out" the child as well as giving it crack cocaine.

The court heard how he recorded the attempted rape of a very young child in a hotel room in Shepherds Bush, London, in April 2012.

Ian Watkins: A committed paedophile who dreamed of 'crossing the line'

Sex abuse footage was found in 'cloud' storage belonging to Watkins. An organisation that is part of GCHQ cracked the password to access his hard drive.

Sally O'Neill QC, on behalf of Watkins, said while the musician claimed he "cannot remember" the attempted rapes - which were captured on video - he wanted the charges put to him again.

Watkins, who stood in the dock wearing a grey suit over a white shirt and dark tie, appeared ashen-faced as the charges were read out.

As the counts were put to him, Watkins repeatedly looked to his legal team as he replied.

The court heard how he recorded the attempted rape of a very young child in a hotel room in Shepherds Bush, London, in April 2012.

Ian Watkins: Worldwide hunt for more of depraved singer's victims

Mr Clee said: "He has engaged in serious sexual offences against two babies belonging to the female defendants in this case.

"Not only has he done so but he recorded and kept episodes of this abuse which were recovered by the police."

The Crown Prosecution Service said it was "sexual exploitation at its worst".

Mr Clee said of the two female defendants: "Both, by their pleas, admitted they have sexually abused their own children at the behest of Ian Watkins.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

"They also made their children available to Ian Watkins to be sexually abused."

The investigation was "extremely complex and challenging", said DCI Doyle after the hearing, with key information and evidence being identified from witnesses worldwide.

South Wales Police worked with Interpol, the Department of Homeland Security in the USA, other police forces, the National Crime Agency’s CEOP command, local authorities in England and Wales, and the NSPCC.

Watkins denied two counts of raping an 11-month-old baby but admitted two counts of attempting to rape the child.

Watkins, with his hands clasped in front of him, rocked back and forth as he also admitted sexually assaulting a child aged under 13.

He also admitted aiding and abetting a female co-defendant to sexually assault a child under 13.

Ian Watkins: Watchdog investigates whether police acted quickly enough

The singer, who has sold 3.5m records, looked at his feet as he admitted conspiracy to rape a child aged under 13, while his voice faltered as he quietly replied "guilty" to a charge of conspiring to sexually assault a child under 13.

He also pleaded guilty to possessing an indecent photograph of a child between August and December last year, a further charge of possessing four indecent photographs of children between August and December last year, and another charge of possessing five indecent images of children between last August and last September.

He also pleaded guilty to two counts of taking indecent photographs of children dating back to 2007 and 2008.

Watkins also admitted possession of indecent photographs of a child and possessing extreme pornography depicting a person engaged in a sex act with an animal.

The musician, from Pontypridd, will be sentenced on December 18.

A 21-year-old woman, who cannot be named, admitted aiding and abetting an attempted rape, two counts of sexually assaulting a child aged under 13 years, taking indecent photographs of children and distributing indecent photographs of children.

A 24-year-old woman, who also cannot be named, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a child aged under 13 by penetration.

She also admitted charges of sexually assaulting a child under 13 by touching, conspiracy to rape a child under 13, conspiracy to sexually assault a girl under 13, two counts of indecent photographs of a child and distributing indecent photographs of children.