Judge Warns Jurors In Trial Of Lostprophets Singer

Jurors may need counselling following the case of alleged baby rape against Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins, the judge has warned.

The 35- year-old performer from Pontypridd is due to go on trial with two female co-defendants in November.

He has denied a total of 24 charges which include accusations of raping a one year old baby and conspiring to rape a second the same age.

One of the woman charged with him has admitted sexually touching a child and taking and distributing indecent images of it.

The second female denies all the allegations against her.

The trial of all three will take place at Cardiff Crown Court, with a jury panel being selected from the city and the surrounding valleys.

At a short hearing before the court today, the three accused appeared on live video links from prisons where they are being held on remand.

The Recorder of Cardiff Judge Eleri Rees adjourned the case for a pre-trial review to be heard before the trial judge Mr Justice Royce early in November.

She invited prosecution and defence lawyers to prepare a list of questions they may wish to put to potential jurors, before they are selected, from what is expected to be a large panel called to the court on the first day of the trial.

She told the court:”There is also the question that some jury members, having completed the trial, may need counselling.”