A paedophile police officer who psychologically manipulated children into sexually abusing themselves on Snapchat is now facing further charges of possessing indecent images of children. Lewis Edwards, a 24-year-old from Bridgend, was previously sentenced to life imprisonment for exploiting and coercing his victims into sending him indecent videos of themselves. He had 4,500 indecent images of children and pleaded guilty to 160 counts of child sexual abuse and blackmail. Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke highlighted that Edwards not only derived sexual pleasure from his actions but also relished the power and control he had over the young girls.
In court last year, it was revealed that Edwards would pose as a peer on Snapchat and target children between 10 and 16 years old. Once he received an indecent image, he would use it to blackmail the victims into sending more images under threats of exposure. Heartbreaking audio and video evidence presented in court showed victims pleading for him to delete the images. The emotional toll on his victims was evident as they begged for mercy. Lewis Edwards, along with his mother Rebekah Edwards, are now facing charges of perverting the course of justice for concealing mobile phones during the investigation.
Appearing in court via video link from HMP Parkhurst, Lewis Edwards, dressed in a grey tracksuit, was accompanied by his mother Rebekah Edwards and father Mark Edwards. While Lewis and Rebekah pleaded guilty to the charges, Mark Edwards denied the accusations. The court proceedings saw Mark Edwards exonerated as no evidence was provided against him. Lewis Edwards also admitted to possessing indecent images of children, further complicating the legal battle.
The sentencing for Rebekah Edwards has been adjourned to allow for a pre-sentence report, with the likelihood of a custodial sentence becoming apparent. Lewis Edwards, who joined the police force in 2021, has since been stripped of his policing duties following a disciplinary hearing. The case remains ongoing as the legal system grapples with the heinous actions of a former police officer.