Detective in the clear over investigation into paedophile rock star
A DETECTIVE accused of gross misconduct over his investigation into paedophile rock star Ian Watkins has been cleared of any wrongdoing.
Detective Sergeant Andrew Whelan, who worked with the South Wales Police’s child abuse investigation unit, was described as a “diligent, dedicated and conscientious” officer by the police misconduct hearing panel at the Waterton Centre in Bridgend.
Chairman Robert Vernon said his closure of a log containing intelligence that the Lostprophets singer was abusing children was a “momentary lapse” made in “difficult circumstances bearing in mind his workload and his professional and personal circumstances at the time”.
He added that it did not amount to misconduct.
Mr Vernon added: “DS Whelan has for a very long time recognised that his decision was not the right decision to take.”
Watkins was sentenced in December 2013 to 35 years in prison for a string of child sex offences, including the attempted rape of a baby.
The Pontypridd-born singer was first arrested in 2012 but a subsequent IPCC investigations found South Wales Police had first been given information about him in 2008 and recommended three detectives face disciplinary action.
The hearing heard Det Sgt Whelan was involved in investigating an allegation made by a former lover of Watkins, Joanne Mjadzelics, at the end of 2008 in which she said Watkins was involved in child sex abuse but that by the summer of 2009 it had been determined that there was insufficient evidence to support her claims.
The misconduct hearing related to further information that came to light between June 2010 and March 2012 and Det Sgt Whelan’s investigation of it.
He was accused of failing to act on intelligence received by South Wales Police via the Metropolitan Police from an informant.