Paedophile police officer Lewis Edwards jailed for life

Transcript

00:00 These are extremely serious offences, and the defendant was a prolific offender.

00:06 He has caused significant harm to the victims, to their parents, their siblings, and their

00:11 wider families.

00:13 It is clear that he not only gained sexual gratification from his offending, but that

00:17 he also enjoyed the power and control that he had over these young girls.

00:23 His reaction to their distress can properly be described as cruel and sadistic.

00:29 His offending is significantly aggravated by the fact that he was a serving police officer.

00:34 Many of his victims and their families have said that his actions have caused them to

00:39 lose trust in the police.

00:41 I am satisfied that a life sentence is appropriate because of the seriousness of these offences

00:47 and the other offences associated with them.

00:50 The level of danger posed to children by the defendant is very high.

00:54 I am satisfied that that risk will continue long into the future, and it is not possible

00:58 to say when that risk will cease.

01:01 I have considered the available alternative sentences, which would be a determinate sentence

01:06 or an extended sentence, but I am satisfied that neither would be appropriate because

01:10 of the defendant's continuing very high risk and the impossibility of assessing when

01:15 that risk will or might cease.

01:18 This means that the minimum term that the defendant must serve before the Parole Board

01:22 may consider his possible release is one of 12 years.

01:26 It is very important that the defendant and everyone concerned with this sentence should

01:31 understand what this sentence means.

01:33 It is a life sentence.

01:36 The minimum term is not a fixed term after which the defendant will automatically be

01:40 released.

01:41 It is the term that must be served before the Parole Board can undertake the first review

01:45 of the case.

01:46 [BLANK_AUDIO]