Lostprophets - Lostprophets Star Charged With Child Sex Offences

The 35-year-old rocker, from Pontypridd, Wales, has been charged with conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a female under 13 and possession/distribution of indecent images of children.

He was questioned at Cardiff Bay police station in his native Wales and is due to appear at a magistrates' court in the city on Wednesday (19Dec12).

A spokesman for South Wales Police says, "A Pontypridd man has been charged with sexual offences against children and is due to appear at Cardiff Magistrates' Court today.

"The 35 year old has been charged with conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a female under 13 and possession/distribution of indecent images of children.

"In order to assist their investigation, South Wales Police has named the man as Ian Watkins, a member of the rock group Lostprophets."

Two women, aged 20 and 24, from Doncaster and Bedford in England, have been charged with similar offences.

Watkins is a founding member of the band, which has sold more than 3.5 million records worldwide and scored a number one in the U.K. with 2006 album Liberation Transmission.