UK Officer who groomed over 200 girls using Snapchat to spend life behind bars
police officer Lewis Edwards has been handed a life sentence for committing more than 100 sexual offences against children. His minimum time behind bars is 12 years.
This was granted after his punishment was reduced by one-third due to his guilty plea.
Edwards who has been given a life sentence was working for the South Wales Police. He was suspended from South Wales Police after his arrest.
He targeted girls who were between 10 to 16 years by using a fake account on Snapchat.
Edwards was absent from the hearing when his punishment was announced. Noting his absence, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, the Recorder of Cardiff, announced that the suspended officer cannot be forced to attend hearings when his sentence is announced.
The judge during the hearing noted that Edwards did not stop abuse even when the girls were crying.
During the hearing, one of the victims begged Edwards to stop asking images and videos of her.
The court recounted one of the victim’s stories where she had to take her father’s help to stop the abuse from Edwards. However, Edwards had no remorse and replied with «Lol.»
Actions of Edwards has been responsible for significant harm to the police department he is working for, Judge Lloyd-Clarke observed.
South Wales Police has admitted that the actions of Edwards would damage the public trust in the department.
