ALAN EDWARDS FROM DAREWEN SENTENCED FOR MURDER AND VIOLENCE IN BLACKBURN

In a case that has shocked the local community, Alan Edwards, a 48-year-old man from Darwen, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Susan Waring, a vulnerable woman from Blackburn, along with numerous other violent offences committed against four different women over a span of more than two decades.

Edwards was convicted last week at Preston Crown Court after a lengthy trial that revealed the extent of his brutality. The court has ordered that he serve a minimum term of 27 years before being eligible for parole. The case drew significant attention due to the disturbing nature of the crimes and the fact that Susan Waring’s body has never been recovered.

Susan Waring, aged 45, was described as a vulnerable woman who endured a series of assaults during her brief relationship with Edwards. Their relationship lasted approximately two months, during which Edwards subjected her to repeated violence. On Tuesday, January 15, 2019, witnesses saw Edwards physically assaulting Susan, punching her in the face. This incident occurred roughly two weeks before her family last heard from her.

The following day, Susan attended a medical appointment with multiple injuries, including bruising and significant swelling to her face. She was accompanied by Edwards, who advised her to seek hospital treatment. Tragically, Susan never followed through with this advice, and her whereabouts remained unknown for weeks.

On Tuesday, January 29, 2019, Susan was last seen in the company of Edwards at an Asda supermarket in Darwen. Her family grew increasingly concerned about her disappearance, and Edwards claimed that she had left on Friday, February 1, 2019, taking some money and clothing with her. Despite his assertions, Edwards failed to maintain contact with Susan, and attempts to reach her were unsuccessful. The family’s concerns prompted them to report her missing to the police.

In a bizarre turn of events, Edwards accidentally sent some images depicting Susan with visible injuries to a family member. When asked to show these images to the police during their investigation, Edwards was unable to produce them, raising further suspicion. Initially, Susan’s disappearance was treated as a missing person case, but as time passed and no evidence of her being alive emerged, authorities shifted their focus to a more serious investigation.

Extensive forensic searches were conducted at Edwards’ residence on Blackburn Road, Darwen, where Susan had lived with him. The police uncovered a disturbing trail of evidence, including bloodstains throughout the property. Blood was found in the living room, on a glass panel of the front door, on furniture, walls, stairs, in the bathroom, and on various objects such as a bathroom cabinet, speakers, and glasses stored in a toolbox in the hallway. Among the items recovered was a rubber Halloween mask covered in numerous blood spots, which was confirmed to belong to Susan. Forensic analysis revealed that Edwards’ DNA was present on the inside of the mask, indicating he had worn it during the assault.

Further investigations uncovered that Edwards had recently attempted to redecorate parts of the flat, including painting over a wall adjacent to the staircase and covering some walls with wallpaper and paint. Underneath the fresh paint, investigators found traces of Susan’s blood, suggesting that she had been attacked in that area and that some of her blood had been deliberately concealed.

When questioned by detectives, Edwards denied ever assaulting Susan and attempted to shift blame onto an ex-partner of hers. However, the evidence against him was overwhelming, and the case revealed a long history of violent and sadistic abuse against multiple women. According to Lancashire Police, Susan was not Edwards’ only victim. Over the years, he had repeatedly assaulted four other women with whom he had been in relationships.

One victim, who was just 18 at the time, recounted being punched and kicked by Edwards between 1990 and late 1991. His violent acts included headbutting her, pointing a gun at her head, tying her to a chair, and kicking her legs—actions that resulted in bruising and bleeding. On one occasion, he used a flick knife to pick at her wounds, rubbed salt and vinegar into her injuries, and even set his pet ferret on her.

The assaults persisted even during her pregnancy, with Edwards holding her head underwater for extended periods. Another woman, in her late twenties, endured similar violence from 1998 to 2001, including headbutts, hair-pulling, and injuries such as a cut finger while pregnant. Her injuries often left her with black eyes and a sore nose, and her hair was frequently yanked out in clumps.

In 2014, Edwards re-established contact with this woman, only to attack her again when she expressed a desire to end their relationship. Between 2003 and 2009, he subjected yet another woman in her thirties to severe violence, including knocking her to the ground so forcefully that her jaw fractured, beating her with a belt, and strangling her. He also prevented her from wearing clothing that could reveal her injuries and restricted her access to her own money.

Another woman, also in her thirties, was involved with Edwards from late 2009 into 2010. Their brief relationship was marked by terrifying incidents, including Edwards strangling her and on at least three occasions, holding a knife against her throat and threatening to cut her unless she stayed awake to speak with him.

The judge presiding over the case expressed gratitude to the police and the Crown Prosecution Service for their diligent work in bringing Edwards to justice. The case serves as a stark reminder of the brutal and sadistic violence inflicted by Edwards over many years, culminating in the tragic loss of Susan Waring’s life and the suffering of numerous other women.