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Police ignored warnings from paedophile rock star Ian Watkins' ex-girlfriend, watchdog finds

Police officers ignored repeated warnings from rock star Ian Watkins’ ex-girlfriend that he had sent her an indecent image of a child, the police watchdog has found.

An investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) found that inaction by South Yorkshire Police may have left a child at risk for several months.

Paedophile Ian Watkins’ ex-girlfriend Joanne Mjadzelics took a laptop three times to Doncaster Police Station between March and May 2012, but South Yorkshire Police officers failed to examine it.

After an investigation, the IPCC concluded that three officers would have a case to answer for gross misconduct but as each has retired after 30 years’ service, no further action can be taken. One officer will face a misconduct hearing over allegations of an inappropriate remark being made to Ms Mjadzelics.

<em>Warnings – Watkins’ ex-girlfriendJoanne Mjadzelics took a laptop three times to Doncaster Police Station between March and May 2012, but South Yorkshire Police officers failed to examine it (Pictures: PA)</em>
Warnings – Watkins’ ex-girlfriendJoanne Mjadzelics took a laptop three times to Doncaster Police Station between March and May 2012, but South Yorkshire Police officers failed to examine it (Pictures: PA)

Watkins, 40, was jailed for 29 years in 2013 for a string of serious sex offences including the attempted rape of a baby.

In March 2012, South Wales Police asked colleagues in South Yorkshire to help with allegations made by Ms Mjadzelics who was living in the force area at the time.

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But rather than specialists from the Public Protection Unit (PPU), initially the Safer Neighbourhood Team was tasked to respond which led to a Pc with no training in child sex abuse investigations or in handling evidence in computer-related offences conducting an initial meeting at the police station.

The IPCC said the constable did not view any image, and there was no determined effort to ascertain whether Ms Mjadzelics had evidence of child sexual abuse.

<em>Jailed – Watkins was jailed for 29 years in 2013 for a string of serious sex offences including the attempted rape of a baby</em>
Jailed – Watkins was jailed for 29 years in 2013 for a string of serious sex offences including the attempted rape of a baby

Two months later a constable from the PPU was told to seize the laptop and to take a statement from the rocker’s ex-girlfriend but this did not happen.

When they viewed the alleged indecent image of a child, on Ms Mjadzelics’ third visit to the police station, officers believed it was a close-up of an adult and the laptop was subsequently destroyed before Watkins’ arrest.

Ms Mjadzelics subsequently complained that South Yorkshire Police did not examine the computer properly, and that a female officer had used inappropriate language towards her on one occasion.

The IPCC had not been due to release its findings but details about its inquiry were published by the Yorkshire Post after the watchdog sent a document in error to the newspaper.

IPCC Commissioner Jan Williams said: “Having taken into consideration the nature and seriousness of Ms Mjadzelics’ allegations against Watkins, the inaction of some South Yorkshire police officers involved may have placed a child at risk of further abuse for several months.

“The evidence suggests there was a general view among officers at Doncaster that Ms Mjadzelics was not to be taken seriously, and consequently enquiries were not progressed as they should have been.

“It is concerning that a neighbourhood police constable without specific training or support, rather than an officer from a specialist team, was expected to view and make judgement on a potential image of child sexual abuse.

“South Yorkshire Police did not handle a request for assistance from South Wales Police thoroughly.

“I have recommended they create a policy document setting out what is expected of officers in collaborating on serious offence investigations.”