Court hears that ex Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins hid phone in his anus

Ian Watkins

Former Lostprophets vocalist Ian Watkins has appeared in court to face charges of possessing a mobile phone in prison.

Watkins, who was jailed for 35 years in 2013 for a string of child sex offences, including the attempted rape of an 11-month-old child, appeared in Leeds Crown Court after he was accused of having a phone in his cell last year.

Watkins pleaded not guilty to the unauthorised possession of a mobile phone when he appeared via video link in court in March this year (opens in new tab).

However, a five-day trial has now begun at Leeds Crown Court where it's claimed that he hid the phone in his anus so it wouldn’t be found during a strip search.

Prosecuter Stephen Wood said (via Wales Online (opens in new tab)) that Watkins was searched after the prison received information about the phone, however, nothing was found.

Wood added: “After the search the defendant said his mother was travelling to visit him and he asked if he would still be allowed to see her. When the prison officer went back, he asked if he could still have the visit if he handed over the phone.

“The officer asked if he had a phone and Watkins replied that he did. The defendant reached into his underwear and towards his anus. After about 10 seconds the defendant then produced a small white telephone. It must have been inserted into the defendant's anus."

The court also heard that prison officers later found a phone charger while searching Watkins’ cell.

The trial continues

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent more than 30 years in newspapers and magazines as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. After initially joining our news desk in the summer of 2014, he moved to the e-commerce team full-time in 2020. He maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, scouts out the best deals for music fans and reviews headphones, speakers, books and more. He's written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog and has previous written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to video games, travel and whisky. Scott grew up listening to rock and prog, cutting his teeth on bands such as Marillion and Magnum before his focus shifted to alternative and post-punk in the late 80s. His favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Ned's Atomic Dustbin and Drab Majesty, but he also still has a deep love of Rush.