Ian Watkins Child Sex Abuse: Locals Call For Removal Of Pontypridd Paving Slabs Memento

'Rip Up Ian Watkins Memento'

UPDATE: A council spokesman said: "Rhondda Cynon Taf Council can confirm that granite paving featuring song lyrics written by convicted paedophile Ian Watkins will be removed from the streetscape of Pontypridd as soon as possible."

Calls are growing for song lyrics penned by the "depraved" paedophile rocker Ian Watkins which are inscribed on paving slabs in his home town to be "ripped up" and trashed.

Words originally immortalised in a street in Pontypridd, South Wales, with pride are now an unwelcome reminder of the town's links to the former Lostprophets frontman, said local Labour AM Mick Antoniw.

Ian Watkins of Lostprophets

Child sex fiend Watkins, 36, pleaded guilty at Cardiff Crown Court last month to a host of horrific offences including two counts of attempted rape of a baby.

The 11th-hour admissions, which have shocked and sickened even hardcore fans, came as he was about to stand trial accused of 24 separate sex offences.

Further details of the singer's perverted sexual appetite have continued to emerge from a variety of sources since then.

On Sunday, HuffPost UK was alerted to a still active online sex profile believed to belong to Watkins.

Family, friends, fans and former bandmates have all spoken of their shock and horror at the despicable secret life of debauchery he led for years.

Watkins, who has turned from local-boy-made-good into an object of loathing, will be sentenced on December 18.

Ian Watkins of Lostprophets performs at Manchester Apollo

It was only last year that 10 paving slabs transcribed with lyrics from the song Streets Of Nowhere were put down with pride in Taff Street.

Part of a civic regeneration project seeking to highlight the area's culture and successes, Watkins' words state: "Every time I walk these streets I know they're mine."

The offending slabs

His words are on public display along with lyrics from Green Green Grass Of Home, a hit for Sir Tom Jones, another local boy.

"I think that the paving was originally put down in good faith when there was a lot of pride locally surrounding the Lostprophets," said Mr Antoniw.

"Since then there have been a number of concerns raised and quite a lot of shock in Pontypridd about the detail of what he did.

"This was something that was put in place and intended for people to take pride in. The feeling is that it should be ripped up now.

"It's not something that the council should make a song and dance about but I think that these pavings should be discreetly removed."

Nobody was available for comment at Rhondda Cynon Taf Council.

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