Steps singer 'H' receives apology in court following Ian Watkins mix-up

December 19, 2013 13:32

Apology follows website accidentally publishing a picture of him alongside a story about convicted Lostprophets frontman

Pop star Ian 'H' Watkins has received an official apology in court from a website who published a picture of him alongside a story about convicted paedophile Ian Watkins, formerly of Lostprophets.

As reported at the time, entertainment website E! Online incorrectly published a photograph of the Steps singer (known to fans as H) in a story about the former Lostprophets singer, after he pleaded guilty to 13 sexual offences, including two of attempting to rape a baby.

Posting an update to fans on Facebook earlier today (December 19), 'H' wrote: "In Court this morning E! have publically apologised to me and a statement has been read in court to make the position clear. This was not something that I did lightly but it was important to me that a public statement was made so that there is no confusion going forward."

He continues: "I am really pleased that it has been resolved so quickly so that my family and I can try and move on from what has been an extremely distressing time."

Meanwhile, it has been reported that Ian Watkins is the subject of police investigations in Germany and the USA. Watkins was sentenced yesterday (December 18) in Cardiff Crown Court and was given a 29-year jail sentence as well as an extended license for six years after pleading guilty to 13 sexual offences.

During sentencing, Judge Justice Royce said that Watkins posed a "significant risk" to women and children and that he and the co-defendants had plumbed "new depths of depravity" and that the case was so extreme it "breaks new ground". He told them: "Any decent person looking at or listening to material here would experience shock, revulsion, anger and incredulity." Read the full story from the trial here.

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Sales of James Blake's 'Overgrown' increase by 2,500 percent following Mercury Prize win

November 1, 2013 16:06

Fellow nominees David Bowie, Savages and Villagers also album boost sales

James Blake has seen sales of his album 'Overgrown' rise by more than 2,500 percent following his Mercury Prize win on Wednesday night (October 30).

The album, Blake's second, was picked above competition from Arctic Monkeys, Disclosure, Villagers, Rudimental, David Bowie and the bookies' favourite Laura Mvula at the London ceremony. Upon winning the award, the 22nd Mercury Prize, delivered a short speech on the night, and said: "Thank you to my parents for showing me the importance of being independent."

Sales of 'Overgrown' on Amazon have jumped 2,538 per cent on Amazon.co.uk following Blake's victory. Meanwhile, other artists nominated for the annual prize have also seen sales boosts with Savages earning the next biggest uplift with sales of their album 'Silence Yourself' increasing by 278 per cent. Elsewhere, David Bowie (229 per cent) and Villager (215 per cent) and Laura Mvula (165 per cent) were also beneficiaries of the award and its high media coverage.

Other nominated albums including Disclosure’s 'Settle', Jon Hopkins' 'Immunity' and Laura Marling's 'Once I Was an Eagle' all sold over 100 per cent more copies following Wednesday night's ceremony.

James Blake follows in the footsteps of Primal Scream, PJ Harvey, Badly Drawn Boy, Elbow, Ms Dynamite, Roni Size, Antony & The Johnsons, Speech Debelle and Alt-J, who have all won the prize. The ceremony, presented by BBC 6 Music's Lauren Laverne, was held at London's Roundhouse.

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