CARDIFF (WALES)
WalesOnLine.com
June 1, 2019
By Liz Day
“Depravity” is a word that has been used by many of the judges dealing with sexual predators for their horrendous crimes.
Figures released last year suggested the number of registered sex offenders living in Wales was rising rapidly.
The statistics from the Ministry of Justice, Prison and Probation Service showed there were just over 4,700 registered sex offenders living in Wales at the end of March, 2018.
That represents an increase of 60% compared to eight years ago and is the equivalent of one sex offender for every 844 people aged 10 and over.
Here are some of the most shocking sexual offence cases seen in Wales:
Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins was jailed for 29 years for sexually abusing children.
He pleaded guilty in November 2013 to 13 counts of sex abuse – including the attempted rape of a baby.
A judge told him he had “plumbed new depths of depravity”, before jailing him.
He was also given an extended licence of six years, meaning a total sentence of 35 years.
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