Ian Watkins, the world's most hated man, gets 35 years for child sex crimes

Ian Watkins, the former Lostprophets singer who last month pleaded guilty to numerous sex crimes involving children—including the attempted rape of a baby—was sentenced today to 35 years in prison.

As well as the 36-year-old Watkins, two mothers in their 20s—known only as Woman A and Woman B—were sentenced to 14 and 17 years respectively. The women had sexually abused their children at Watkins' request.

In passing sentence Judge Justice Royce said that the case "breaks new ground" and "plumbs to new depths of depravity".

Cofounded by Watkins in 1997, Lostprophets released five albums, selling roughly three-and-a-half million copies. The other bandmembers have claimed they knew nothing of his offending.

In April 2004, I had actually interviewed Watkins on the phone in advance of a Lostprophets gig at a Vancouver nightclub. The conversation was quite innocuous, but there was one quote from him that perhaps vaguely hinted at his monstrous mindset.

Knowing Lostprophets was set to open for Metallica on tour that coming summer, I had asked him how he thought the typical Metallica fan would react to his own group’s music.

“I have no idea,” replied the world's most hated man flatly. “I think it’s just one of those things you have to do anyway. It’s like, you can’t turn it down. Whether it’s gonna be good or bad, it’s just an experience, you know.”

Watkins will "experience" at least 20 years in prison before being considered for parole.