Detective Chief Inspector Peter Doyle called Ian Watkins “potentially the most dangerous sex offender ever” after the 36-year-old singer of the former band Lostprophets was sentenced to 35 years in prison. Doyle strongly believes that Watkins has offended against other children, and the ongoing investigation now has spread to the United States and Germany.
Doyle believes that several other children may have been abused in the years that Watkins toured extensively around the world from 2001 – 2012 with Lostprophets, stating, “Our priority area is Germany and the USA at the moment. ”
The senior investigator in the case said that, “From information I hold now there will be further arrests because I believe there are further victims.” He confirmed that the South Wales Police Force had been in touch with Interpol, the German Federal Police and Homeland Security in Boston and Los Angeles. “The reason for that is that he traveled so extensively.”
So we started wondering…where in the hell was Ian Watkins during the last 12 years while on tour with the Lostprophets – specifically in America and Germany? Was he in your town?
We mulled through hundreds of pages/websites and sources to try to pull together a viable list/overview of the many cities and dates Lostprophets played from 2001 – 2012. Go to LOST PROPHETS TOUR AGENDAS to see the list (external window will open).
Police are asking for the public help identify other victims and perpetrators. “Our view is that there are other victims,” he said. Adding, “The absolute number one priority is the identification and protection of children; protecting children wherever they are. I would appeal to the public for further information, or anyone who has got anything they think we need to know, to please tell us.”
Anyone who has been affected by this case or other cases of child abuse can contact South Wales Police on 029 20634184 or the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000.
Explaining the scale and gravity of the evidence, Det Chief Inspector Doyle told WalesOnline: “The investigation has been very complex. We recovered computer storage material of some 27 terabytes – that is four or five times the size of South Wales Police’s computer system put together. The reality is that he is a very computer-savvy individual and has used numerous multimedia devices both to access and store his material, for instance iCloud and CrashPlan. ”
Doyle elaborated saying, “The scale of an investigation like this is one where you reach milestones along the way but the investigation continues as we speak because it takes a long time to work through such volumes of data. That said we do use experts to try to identify offending data and priorities the safeguarding of any children who may be on the systems and action that safeguarding immediately.
“This is a global problem and in order to reach those who are still suffering, governments and law enforcement agencies need to work together to tackle this very complex issue.”
Dozens of detectives and experts from around the globe have been working in associated teams regarding the investigation into the 36-year-old singer. Two of those teams are based in the United States, working in Boston and Los Angeles, while the National Crime Agency in Holland and the organization of the same name based in London have also been involved.
Teams from Interpol and German federal police have also worked as a part of the investigation, which has been staffed by “upwards of 40 or 50 people” in total. The allegations relate both to the UK and overseas, but Doyle would not confirm whether the number of countries involved in the investigation had widened.
