Lostprophets’ Ian Watkins Was Hiding a Cell Phone in His Anus While in Prison

Back in March, ex-Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins, who in 2013 was sentenced to a 35-year prison term for multiple acts of pedophilia, was charged with possessing an unauthorized item in prison, specifically a cell phone. It’s just the latest in a string of charges against Watkins, who in 2017 — while already serving time — was busted for “grooming” a 21-year-old woman to engage in sexual acts with her two-year-old.

With the trial for the cell phone possession charge having gone to court today, August 5th, new details have come to light via The Independent. The publication reports that Watkins had been hiding the phone inside his anus and produced it to corrections officers after a strip search. Watkins claims he was being forced to conceal the phone by other inmates, who he alleges were threatening to slash him. Prosecutor Stephen Wood points to evidence that Watkins had used the device to contact a woman, Gabriella Persson, with whom he had previously been in a relationship. It was Persson who first reported Watkins to the police for possession of the phone.

“Mr Wood said: ‘He said his life had been threatened. He told police he had been threatened with being slashed.’

“The court head that Watkins described those he said threatened him as “serious guys” and said the mobile was a ‘wing phone.’

“Watkins told police that other prisoners wanted him to call ‘his groupies’ and get them to send money, and said he was ‘really f***ing scared.’

“Mr Wood said the prosecution will argue that Watkins was not acting under duress.”

More details are available at The Independent. The trial will continue tomorrow.

[via The PRP]