Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins to stand trial on baby rape and 22 sex offence charges in November

Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins is standing trial on charges of baby rape and 22 other sex offences in November. (Getty Images)

Rock singer Ian Watkins will stand trial accused of baby rape and a total of 22 other sex offences at the end of the year.

A judge set 25 November as a trial date for the Lostprophets' frontman at a hearing at Cardiff Crown Court, south Wales, today.

Watkins, 35, from Pontypridd, appeared at the hearing via videolink from Parc Prison, Bridgend and was told he will be on trial for up to four weeks.

Judge Eleri Rees, the recorder for Cardiff, denied an attempt by the defence to switch the eventual trial to a location outside Wales.

Watkins appeared in a plea hearing at the same court on Monday when he denied a total of 24 separate sex offences.

Among them are two counts of raping a baby, one of conspiracy to rape a child and one of conspiracy to sexually assault a child.

He also denies charges of sexually assaulting a baby and aiding and abetting a woman to sexually assault a baby.

Two women, aged 20 and 24, who cannot be named for legal reasons, will also stand trial with Watkins at the end of November.

One of the women has admitted sexual touching of a baby, one count of taking indecent photographs and one of distributing photographs of a child.

A jury will be told about her three guilty pleas at the opening of the eventual trial.

Watkins, whose band has sold more than 3.5 million albums worldwide, also faces a series of charges for possessing, making and distributing indecent images of children.

He is also accused of possessing an extreme image depicting a person having sex with an animal.

The oldest of the alleged offences dates back to 2007.

One of the two women also appeared by videolink. One was absent.

The three defendants are collectively accused of a total of 32 offences.

Judge Rees adjourned proceedings until August 12 for a case management hearing at the same court.

All three remain remanded in custody.

PA