Ian H Watkins From Steps Wins Apology Over Mix-Up On Lostprophets Story

H From Steps Wins Apology Over Paedo Ian Watkins Story
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Ian 'H' Watkins, from the pop group Steps, during a photocall in London, to launch Save the Children's Seriously Big Book. The giant book measuring 6ft x 4ft, contains powerful artwork sent in by children from the UK and over 36 countries world-wide. * The book will be sent by Save the Children to the United Nations Special Session on Children, which takes place in New York on September 19 - 21st.
Myung Jung Kim/PA Archive

Ian 'H' Watkins has received a public apology over the mistaken use of his photograph in a story about Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins, who pleaded guilty for attempting to rape a baby.

The pop star had received abuse on Twitter as social media users mixed up the pair.

A judge in London heard that the musician and actor, also known "H" from the band Steps, had been "receiving abuse as a result of people confusing the two Ian Watkins" before the error over the photograph was made.

He received an apology today from E! Entertainment Television, a US company which operates a television channel E! and website E! Online, covering celebrity news.

His solicitor John Reid told the judge that the defendant, E! Entertainment Television, "reported the guilty plea of Ian Watkins of the Lostprophets in an article on E! Online", adding: "However, the defendant mistakenly included a photograph of the claimant, Ian 'H' Watkins of Steps, instead of Ian Watkins of the Lostprophets."

He said: "The error quickly came to the attention of the defendant, which promptly replaced the photograph with the correct one."

Mr Reid told the judge that the defendant also promptly added an editor's note to the article, stating: "This story was originally published with an image of Ian "H" Watkins of the band Steps rather than Ian Watkins of the Lostprophets. E! Online deeply regrets this error."

He said the defendant "also promptly emailed and telephoned the claimant's management to apologise to the claimant".

The judge heard that as well as having the same name as the Lostprophets singer, both men are of similar age and originally come from Wales.

Solicitor Timothy Pinto told the judge that, on behalf of the defendant, he confirmed everything said by Mr Reid "and apologises for the distress and damage caused by the publication of the photograph".