A woman has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for a disturbing scheme to befriend the mother of Lostprophets paedophile Ian Watkins's child with the explicit intention of arranging contact between the disgraced singer and his baby.
Sarah Lewis, 36, deliberately targeted the vulnerable mother after discovering she had given birth to Watkins's child while the former rock star was already serving a 29-year sentence for unspeakable child sex offences.
Calculated Friendship with Sinister Motives
Cardiff Crown Court heard how Lewis initiated contact with the mother in 2021, presenting herself as a supportive friend while secretly harbouring plans to facilitate access to the child for one of Britain's most notorious sex offenders.
Prosecutor Nuhu Gobir revealed the chilling truth: "The friendship was a sham. Her sole motivation was to get close to the child and arrange for Watkins to have access."
From Fan to Co-Conspirator
Lewis, who had previously corresponded with Watkins while he was incarcerated, admitted to two counts of intentionally encouraging or assisting the commission of an indictable-only offence.
The court learned she had even discussed the possibility of bringing the child to visit Watkins in prison - a prospect described by Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke as "every parent's worst nightmare."
Chilling Messages Reveal True Intentions
Evidence presented to the court included messages between Lewis and Watkins where she explicitly stated her intentions. In one exchange, she wrote: "I'm going to befriend [the mother] and get access to the baby."
Another message revealed her cold calculation: "I'm going to get close to her and get access to the baby for you."
Judge's Stern Warning
Passing sentence, Judge Lloyd-Clarke emphasised the gravity of Lewis's actions: "You targeted a vulnerable woman and her baby. Your behaviour was calculated, manipulative and persistent."
She added: "There can be no doubt that your intention was to facilitate contact between Ian Watkins and his child. The courts will always take the strongest possible action to protect children from harm."
Protecting the Vulnerable
The case has raised serious questions about how to protect children connected to high-profile offenders. Watkins, now 47, is serving one of the longest sentences in British legal history for child sex offences described by judges as "depravity of the worst kind."
This sentencing serves as a stark reminder that the justice system remains vigilant in protecting the most vulnerable members of society from those who would seek to enable dangerous offenders.
