Lostprophets Split As Ian Watkins Faces Trial

Welsh rock band Lostprophets, whose frontman Ian Watkins is charged with child sex offences, have announced they have split up.

The group, who had been together since 1997, revealed the news to fans on their Facebook page.

Watkins is due to stand trial at the end of the year accused of raping a baby and a total of 22 other sex offences.

His bandmates said in a statement: "After nearly a year of coming to terms with our heartache, we finally feel ready to announce publicly what we have thought privately for some time.

"We can no longer continue making or performing music as Lostprophets.

"Your love and support over the past 15 years has been tremendous, and we'll be forever grateful for all you've given us.

"As we look forward to the next phase of our lives, we can only hope to be surrounded by people as devoted and inspiring as you guys have been."

The statement was signed "Jamie (Oliver), Lee (Gaze), Luke (Johnson), Mike (Lewis), and Stu (Richardson)".

Watkins appeared in a plea hearing at Cardiff Crown Court in June 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.