ANDREW EDGSON FROM BOOTLE SENTENCED FOR FAILING TO REGISTER AFTER SEX OFFENCES

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Bootle, a woman discovered the horrifying truth about her partner, Andrew Edgson, only after a distressing phone call revealed his criminal past. The woman, a mother of two, had been in a relationship with Edgson for approximately 18 months before she learned that he was a convicted sex offender currently serving time in prison.

Her realization came in April of this year when she contacted the police to inquire about Edgson’s whereabouts. She was shocked to find out that he had been missing from her life because he was incarcerated. The police confirmed that Edgson, aged 38, was serving a 12-month sentence for serious sexual offences committed against a child. This revelation was particularly devastating for the woman, who had been living with him and her children during the period between his conviction and sentencing, unaware of his criminal history.

During the court proceedings at Liverpool Crown Court, it was revealed that Edgson had established a relationship with the woman in 2019. The relationship grew serious, leading him to move into her home in Bootle. However, in December of the previous year, Edgson suddenly disappeared from her life. A few days later, he made contact from prison, claiming he was at a police station “sorting something out,” which the court described as a misleading statement intended to conceal his true circumstances.

The judge, Recorder David Knifton, QC, emphasized the gravity of Edgson’s actions, stating, “You again misled her about your whereabouts and the circumstances of your detention.” The woman was left devastated upon discovering that Edgson had been convicted of a serious sexual offence, a fact he had deliberately concealed. Her feelings of betrayal were compounded by her belief that his failure to disclose was an attempt to continue their relationship and maintain proximity to her and her children, which she viewed as a manipulative act.

Furthermore, the court heard that Edgson had failed to comply with the legal requirements of the Sexual Offences Register. Despite being under obligation to inform police of his residence, he did not disclose that he was living with the woman and her children after his release from prison. This breach of the registration scheme was a clear violation of the law, and the judge condemned his actions as a flagrant breach from the outset.

Edgson, who has no fixed address but was formerly based in Huyton, pleaded guilty to the charge of failing to comply with registration requirements under the Sexual Offences provisions. Prosecutor Chris Taylor informed the court that Edgson had previously been sentenced to 14 months in prison in December 2020 for the sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl in early 2019. The terms of his registration required him to inform police of his current address, but he failed to do so, concealing his living arrangements with the woman and her children.

In sentencing, the judge emphasized the seriousness of Edgson’s breaches and the potential risk posed by his failure to adhere to legal obligations designed to protect the public. Edgson was subsequently sentenced to 12 months in prison for his failure to register, a punishment that underscores the importance of compliance with sexual offences legislation and the ongoing threat posed by individuals who flout these laws.