A woman convicted for her role in the horrific child abuse crimes of disgraced rockstar Ian Watkins is seeking freedom following his death in prison. Watkins, the former frontman for the band Lostprophets, was serving a 29-year sentence for what a judge described as unimaginable depravity, including the attempted rape of an infant. The 48-year-old was killed in an assault at HMP Wakefield, a maximum-security facility in the UK, leading to murder charges against two fellow inmates.
The case, which shocked the world with its brutality, also involved the prosecution of two female fans who enabled Watkins’ abuse. One of these women, identified only as Woman B to protect her child’s identity, was sentenced to 17 years in prison for her direct involvement in the abuse of her own baby. Her crimes included taking indecent photographs at the rockstar’s behest. Her imprisonment was a stark consequence for a parent who failed in the most fundamental duty of protection.
In a new development, the UK Parole Board has confirmed that this woman’s case has been referred for a fresh review. A standard procedure following a significant event like the death of a key figure in the case, this review will determine if the prisoner still poses a risk to the public. The board’s panel will examine a wide range of evidence, from the details of her original crime to any signs of behavioral change during her time behind bars.
This is not the woman’s first attempt at freedom. She was previously released in 2021 at the automatic midpoint of her sentence but was returned to custody just three months later. Authorities cited concerns over her relationships and other unspecified behaviors as the reason for revoking her parole. This quick return to prison suggested that she was not successfully reintegrating into society or adhering to the conditions set for her release.
During her first formal parole hearing in 2023, officials noted that while she had been well-behaved in prison, she had shown a troubling reluctance to engage with programs designed to help her understand the gravity of her sex offenses. The hearing summary stated that she had not sufficiently considered the impact of her actions on her victim and that her history showed she was easily influenced and manipulated. Her path to release remains dependent on proving she has truly confronted the nature of her crimes.
