Latest news with #Vile
Scottish Sun
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Lostprophets star speaks out 13 years after singer Ian Watkins was convicted of vile child sex offences
Watkins was jailed in 2013 after a shocking trial for offences including the attempted rape of a baby 'IT'S BEEN PAINFUL' Lostprophets star speaks out 13 years after singer Ian Watkins was convicted of vile child sex offences Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LOSTPROPHETS guitarist Lee Gaze has spoken out 13 years after singer Ian Watkins was convicted of vile child sex offences - calling the end of the band "painful". The musician, 50, shared a post where he described the band's infamous demise as the "ultimate punishment" Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 4 Lostprophets guitarist Lee Gaze has spoken out 13 year after Ian Watkins' crimes Credit: Getty 4 Ian Watkins was jailed for 35 years in 2013 for 13 offences against children Credit: AP:Associated Press 4 Watkins was refused the right to appeal against his 35-year sentence Credit: PA:Press Association The Welsh band's former frontman Watkins was jailed for 35 years in 2013 for 13 sex offences against children. Gaze took to his X account as he reflected on the past and shared his heartache, writing: "It's been 13 years since my band ended in the most unimaginable circumstances and it's still painful to think about. "Things could've been so different." He added: "I don't talk about it much, but I put everything into that band, and it should've lasted a lifetime. "I never really wronged anyone my whole life so it seemed like the ultimate punishment." His followers took to the comment section to share their support for the star. One wrote: "I'm really sorry you're still carrying that pain. Everything should have been different. But fate is a cruel joke. You didn't deserve it. I think a lot about what the band would be like now." He replied to the fan, saying: "Yeh. Hard to make sense of it all, even after all these years." This person posted: "I wish you a big success with your new project. Thanks for the music and memories." Another added: "I always say to any band I record if LP comes up in conversation, what that guy did was unspeakably evil, but I've got so much sympathy for everyone else in that (your) band - he ruined many other people's lives and careers instantly, and it's never spoken about." Ian Watkins handed 35-year jail sentence Vile paedophile Watkins was jailed in 2013 after a shocking trial for offences including the attempted rape of a baby. He changed his plea to guilty at the beginning of the trial and admitted to trying to rape a fan's baby and plotting to rape another infant. Watkins filmed himself committing sex acts on a baby boy the day after Lostprophets' final album Weapons was released. The fiend claimed at Cardiff Crown Court he could not remember the sickening attacks because he was a 'heavy user' of crystal meth at the time. A year after being placed behind bars, Watkins was refused the right to appeal against his 35-year sentence. Lord Justice Christopher Pitchford said his offences were of 'such shocking depravity' that the long sentence was called for. He said the original trial judge had correctly gauged the seriousness of his offending and that the term was not 'manifestly unjust'. In 2019, Watkins had a further 10 months added to his sentence after he was convicted of having a banned mobile phone in prison, which he used to communicate with scores of warped female fans from his cell. He will be eligible for parole after serving two-thirds of the prison term. In August 2023, Watkins was taken to hospital after he was taken hostage by three other lags, before being ''roughed up'' and stabbed. According to sources, the siege at HMP Wakefield only came to an end when a ''Tornado'' team of specially-trained riot officers hurled stun grenades into the cell, where Watkins was being held. One source said he had been stabbed in the neck and had been taken for life-saving treatment at Leeds General Infirmary.
The Irish Sun
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Lostprophets star speaks out 13 years after singer Ian Watkins was convicted of vile child sex offences
LOSTPROPHETS guitarist Lee Gaze has spoken out 13 years after singer Ian Watkins was convicted of vile child sex offences - calling the end of the band "painful". The musician, 50, shared a post where he described the band's infamous demise as the "ultimate punishment" 4 Lostprophets guitarist Lee Gaze has spoken out 13 year after Ian Watkins' crimes Credit: Getty 4 Ian Watkins was jailed for 35 years in 2013 for 13 offences against children Credit: AP:Associated Press 4 Watkins was refused the right to appeal against his 35-year sentence Credit: PA:Press Association The Welsh band's former frontman Watkins was Gaze took to his X account as he reflected on the past and shared his heartache, writing: "It's been 13 years since my band ended in the most unimaginable circumstances and it's still painful to think about. "Things could've been so different." He added: "I don't talk about it much, but I put everything into that band, and it should've lasted a lifetime. "I never really wronged anyone my whole life so it seemed like the ultimate punishment." His followers took to the comment section to share their support for the star. One wrote: "I'm really sorry you're still carrying that pain. Everything should have been different. But fate is a cruel joke. You didn't deserve it. I think a lot about what the band would be like now." He replied to the fan, saying: "Yeh. Hard to make sense of it all, even after all these years." Most read in Celebrity This person posted: "I wish you a big success with your new project. Thanks for the music and memories." Another added: "I always say to any band I record if LP comes up in conversation, what that guy did was unspeakably evil, but I've got so much sympathy for everyone else in that (your) band - he ruined many other people's lives and careers instantly, and it's never spoken about." Ian Watkins handed 35-year jail sentence Vile paedophile Watkins was jailed in 2013 after a shocking trial for offences including the attempted rape of a baby. He changed his plea to guilty at the beginning of the trial and admitted to trying to rape a fan's baby and plotting to rape another infant. Watkins filmed himself committing sex acts on a baby boy the day after Lostprophets' final album Weapons was released. The fiend claimed at Cardiff Crown Court he could not remember the sickening attacks because he was a 'heavy user' of A year after being placed behind bars, Watkins was refused the right to appeal against his 35-year sentence. Lord Justice Christopher Pitchford said his offences were of 'such shocking depravity' that the long sentence was called for. He said the original trial judge had correctly gauged the seriousness of his offending and that the term was not 'manifestly unjust'. In 2019, Watkins had a further 10 months added to his sentence after he was convicted of having a banned mobile phone in prison, which he used to communicate with scores of warped female fans from his cell. He will be eligible for In August 2023, Watkins was taken to hospital after he was taken hostage by three other lags, before being ''roughed up'' and stabbed. Read more on the Irish Sun According to sources, the siege at One source said he had been stabbed in the neck and had been taken for life-saving treatment at Leeds General Infirmary. 4 Gaze described the band ending as 'painful' and the 'ultimate punishment' Credit: Getty
Scottish Sun
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
RAF fighter jets to be scrambled to Middle East as Israel-Iran conflict spirals and Tehran threatens to strike UK bases
It comes as Iran and Israel teeter on the brink of all-out war WAR FOOTING RAF fighter jets to be scrambled to Middle East as Israel-Iran conflict spirals and Tehran threatens to strike UK bases Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BRITISH fighter jets are being deployed to the Middle East to protect British assets amid the spiralling Israel-Iran conflict, Sir Keir Starmer says. The Prime Minister bolstered our military presence in the region after Tehran warned the UK that our bases and ships are at risk. Sign up for the Politics newsletter Sign up 7 RAF jets will be deployed to the Middle East to protect British assets 7 It comes after Iran's ballistic missile strikes on Tel Aviv, pictured 7 A building is hit by a missile in Tel Aviv, Israel, on June 13 7 Sir Keir Starmer has decided to scramble British jets to the Middle East The escalation came after Iranian state media said American, British and French military bases would be in the firing line if they blocked Iran's drone and missile retaliation. The Prime Minister, on his way to the G7 summit in Canada, said: 'I will always make the right decisions for the UK and our allies. 'We are moving assets to the region, including jets, and that is for contingency support in the region. "I will be clear-eyed in relation to our duties and obligations and my duties as Prime Minister.' read more politics TUCH RAP Vile chants about PM 'not acceptable' Tuchel tells England fans after Andorra win Military capabilities such as further refuelling aircraft and additional fast jets will be deployed in the wake of the threat – adding to our presence there under Operation Shader. The aircraft started their preparation for heading to the Middle East on Friday morning when Ministers realised the situation was rapidly deteriorating. It comes after Israel launched strikes on Iran's nuclear plants which triggered Tehran to hit back across the country with ballistic missiles - raising fears of an all-out war. Israel vowed "Tehran will burn" after they were hit with four deadly waves of missiles aimed at the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) headquarters in Tel Aviv which have killed at least three people. Sir Keir Starmer's intervention comes after a diplomatic blitz by telephone in the last 48 hours to the leaders of the US, Saudi Arabia and Israel, to calm tensions. Speaking about his conversation with Donald Trump, the PM added: 'I've obviously discussed that with President Trump yesterday, as you would expect, and what the possible routes to de-escalation are given the situation, we find ourselves in. 'I think there's a widespread concern about escalation, everybody can see what's going on and it can have on the region and beyond the region is obvious.' Iran Responds to Israeli Missile Attacks with strikes of its own The PM insisted he will be holding 'intense negotiations' face-to-face with fellow leaders at the G7 on Sunday. He refused to get into any detail on whether he knew about the Israel attack in advance. He said: 'We do have long standing concerns about the nuclear program Iran has. "We do recognize Israel's right to self-defence, but I'm absolutely clear that this needs to de-escalate. He continued: 'There is a huge risk of escalation for the region. More widely in terms of conflict, you can see the impact already on the economy and oil prices. 'And of course, all of this is linked to what's going on in Gaza. So you can see why my strong position is this needs to de-escalate, and that is the primary focus of the discussions that I've been having and will continue to be.' Foreign Secretary David Lammy had conversations with representatives from Iran, Jordan and Saudi Arabia as well as European foreign ministers on Friday. Tensions between Israel, the US and Iran have ramped up in recent weeks, amid negotiations over the Iranian nuclear deal - which is aimed at stopping the country from developing nuclear weapons. The Iranian ballistic missile strikes on Israel descended on the civilian population across the country and managed to severely damage some neighbourhoods in Tel Aviv. The country's defence minister Israel Katz said Iran "crossed red lines after it dared to attack the civilian population" and will now "pay a heavy price for it". He added: "If Khamenei continues to fire missiles at the Israeli home front, Tehran will burn." Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the conflict between Israel and Iran, as well as efforts towards a Ukraine settlement in a phone call with US counterpart Donald Trump, Russian state media reported Saturday. "The dangerous escalation in the Middle East was of course at the centre of the exchange," the agencies cited the Kremlin as saying. It added that Putin also informed Trump about the "implementation of the agreements reached at the meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul on June 2". 7 Israeli air defence systems do battle with Iranian missiles in the skies Credit: AP 7 The first strikes hit Tehran in the early hours of Friday Credit: AP
Sunday World
13-05-2025
- Sunday World
Fears of major unrest as Dundon's hated rival gets prison move after he's caught with shiv
'There was a lot of surprise that O'Neill would be sent down here when we are holding Dessie Dundon' Vile gang rapist Thomas O'Neill has been moved from the Midlands to Cork prison — just doors away from hated rival Dessie Dundon — after the predator was caught with a 'shiv' in his cell. Heroin dealer O'Neill — who is serving a two-year-sentence for drug offences — was moved 'on punishment' to the Challenging Behaviour Unit (CBU) in Cork prison late last month. His new cell is one landing beneath and six cells down from infamous gangster Dessie. Dessie is currently 21 years into a life sentence for the murder of rival crime boss Kieran Keane and the attempted murder of Keane's nephew, Owen Treacy, in Limerick in January 2003. Now, sources say there are major fears in the Munster prison that the proximity of the two could lead to unrest in the prison. O'Neill's wife April Collins was a State witness 'There was a lot of surprise that O'Neill would be sent down here when we are already holding Dessie,' the source said. 'Anyone who is in any way familiar with what happened in Limerick would know these two have no reason to have any fondness for each other. 'Hopefully it's a very short-term arrangement as he's only down on punishment after he was caught with a shiv in his cell in the other place. 'Nobody wants to see what would happen if they somehow came face to face.' O'Neill, notorious in his own right for his involvement in the Cratloe Woods gang rape, came to the attention of the Dundon gang in 2017 when he married State witness April Collins. Collins is the former partner of Dessie's brother Ger. Her evidence in the Shane Geoghegan murder trial saw Dessie's brother John jailed for life. She also gave evidence against another brother, Wayne, who was subsequently jailed for life for the murder of innocent businessman Roy Collins. Dessie Dundon is serving life for the murder of Kieran Keane Similarly to the Dundons, O'Neill is heavily involved in drugs in Limerick. In November 2024, he admitted six counts under the Misuse of Drugs Act and was jailed for two years for having cocaine and heroin for sale or supply in Limerick city. O'Neill's sentencing hearing, held before Limerick Circuit Criminal Court, heard that an armed Garda unit saw the mobster allegedly drug-dealing while leaning into the rear of a Hyundai Tucson car, outside a house at Hyde Avenue. When the armed gardaí approached O'Neill, he became aggressive in an effort to distract the officers who observed drugs deals on the rear seat of the vehicle, it was heard. Gardaí seized the car and found 23 heroin deals and 18 deals of cocaine bagged up on the rear seat. Gardai also obtained CCTV evidence showing O'Neill and two others engaging in drug dealing. Gardai searched O'Neill's home and found seven more heroin deals, drug paraphernalia, as well as a set of keys to and registration certificate for the Hyundai Tucson. Prison shiv After his arrest, O'Neill told gardaí the drugs were for his own use, that he smoked ten bags of heroin a day, and that the deal bags were for 'bird seed and seeds for flowers'. Prosecuting barrister, John O'Sullivan, said while the total amount of drugs seized from O'Neill (€616) might have been regarded as a low amount by some, it demonstrated the thug was actively dealing cocaine and heroin. Mr O'Sullivan described O'Neill as a 'veteran of the criminal justice system since he was a juvenile', and he highlighted O'Neill's conviction and nine-year sentence in 2004 for his leading role in 'a gang rape that achieved considerable notoriety'. O'Neill was one of four youths and an adult man who raped a woman at Cratloe Woods, Co Clare, on January 23, 2004. Thomas O'Neill and Dessie Dundon News in 90 Seconds - May 13th O'Neill, Dean Barry and Darragh Ryan, were all aged 16 at the time and their accomplice Jason Ring was 14. The four were armed with a golf club, a screwdriver, a shovel and a wheel brace, and threatened the woman and a male who had travelled to the woods in the early hours of the morning. O'Neill and his accomplices ordered the pair out of their car and struck the woman with a golf club after she refused to give one of the gang a kiss. The man was ordered into the boot of the vehicle while the four youths took turns raping the woman in the car. The gang threatened to burn the car with the man inside it, and assaulted him a number of times with the golf club. O'Neill and the others pleaded guilty to rape, false imprisonment and assault causing harm, and were jailed for a total of 31 years. April Collins and Ger Dundon O'Neill was described by then sentencing judge Paul Carney, now deceased, as the 'ringleader' and the 'director of operations' of the gang. He was jailed for ten years with the final 12 months suspended. Mr O'Sullivan told O'Neill's sentencing hearing for drug dealing that O'Neill had previous convictions for violent disorder, assault with intent to cause bodily harm, false imprisonment, intimidating a witness, robbery, having a mobile phone in jail, affray, possessing drugs for sale or supply, and road traffic offences. O'Neill's' barrister, Liam Carroll BL, told the drugs sentencing hearing that O'Neill was struggling with heroin addiction at the time and that he is currently on a drugs treatment programme in prison and engaging in education and cookery classes inside.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ye Slammed By Jewish Human Rights Organization For ‘Despicable' ‘Heil Hitler' Song
Ye (formerly Kanye West) continues to be in hot water after attempting to release his highly controversial song 'Heil Hitler.' After being yanked down by streaming services and DSPs on Thursday (May 8), CEO of Simon Wiesenthal Center, Jim Berk, shared a statement to Billboard, voicing his dismay and disappointment in the mercurial MC. 'Kanye West's release of a song entitled 'Heil Hitler' on VE Day, the anniversary of the defeat of the Nazi regime, is hate speech, pure and simple—totally in line with the despicable messages we now expect from West,' said Berk. More from Billboard The ADL Slams Ye's 'Vile' Antisemitism & Sale of Swastika T-Shirts: 'There's No Excuse' PinkPantheress Drops 'Fancy That': Stream It Now 'It's a Happy Time': Counting Crows Return With 'The Complete Sweets!' Berk's frustration didn't stop there, as he directed his attention to Elon Musk's social media platform X, for enabling such vitriol to be spewed by Ye and others. 'But his partner in spreading dangerous vitriol against Jews is X, which is allowing flagrant violation of its own rules reading, 'You may not directly attack other people on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, caste, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, disability, or serious disease.'' He continued: 'We call on X to remove West from its platform and for other platforms and distributors to refuse to host or monetize this song. There must be a clear line when it comes to glorification of genocidal regimes, particularly to millions of young people.' After experiencing failed attempts on DSPs, West uploaded the song to SoundCloud, where it was later pulled down as well. This prompted Ye to share his thoughts on X. 'Heil Hitler by Ye has been banned by all digital streaming platforms,' Ye wrote. 'While Rednecks by Randy Newman remains streamable They're literally keeping the n—-s down.' Previously teased by Ye, 'Heil Hitler' had terse subject matter ranging from the rapper's nitrous usage to custody issues over his four children with ex-wife Kim Kardashian. Billboard reached out to Ye's camp for comment. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
