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Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins on suicide watch five times an hour as he awaits baby rape trial

Clinical psychologist suggests singer receive anti-psychotic medication and be moved from prison to a psychiatric hospital

John Hall
Tuesday 13 August 2013 16:02 BST
Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins is standing trial on charges of baby rape and 22 other sex offences in November.
Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins is standing trial on charges of baby rape and 22 other sex offences in November. (Getty Images)

Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins is on suicide watch five times an hour as he prepares to stand trial accused of raping a baby.

A clinical psychologist suggested the singer receive anti-psychotic medication, and recommended he be moved from Parc prison in Bridgend to a psychiatric hospital.

The details emerged as Watkins appeared via video-link at a pre-trial review in Cardiff Crown Court this morning.

The 35-year-old’s defence barrister Sally O'Neill said: “He has been seen by a clinical psychologist and she believes he should be receiving anti-psychotic medication… She wants him to be taken to a secure hospital for assessment and treatment.”

“He is on suicide watch five times an hour,” she added.

Watkins denies 24 sex offences, including raping a baby and possessing an extreme image of a person having sex with an animal.

His co-accused, two females who cannot be named for legal reasons, also appeared in court today.

While one of the women, a 24-year-old, denies all charges against her, the other, a 20-year-old, has admitted sexually touching a child and taking and distributing indecent images of it.

All three were remanded in custody as Judge Eleri Rees adjourned the hearing until 14 October.

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