ANTHONY EDWARDS FROM WOLD NEWTON SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC SEXUAL ABUSE IN GRIMSBY

In May 2016, a disturbing case involving Anthony William Edwards, a 69-year-old resident of Wold Newton, came to light as he faced serious allegations of sexual assault and abuse against two young girls. The crimes, which spanned over two decades, involved Edwards forcing his victims to undress in his presence and engaging in acts described by the court as carried out with "entrenched depravity."

Edwards was convicted at Grimsby Crown Court in May 2015, where a jury found him guilty of raping one girl on three separate occasions and indecently assaulting another. Despite these convictions, he was acquitted of seven additional sex-related charges. The severity of his crimes and the nature of his conduct prompted Edwards to challenge his convictions, leading to an appeal case heard in London’s Court of Appeal.

During the appeal, Edwards argued that his trial had not been fair, raising concerns about the adequacy of his legal representation and claiming that some of the jury’s verdicts lacked logical consistency and should be overturned. However, Judge Michael Stokes QC, sitting alongside Lord Justice Davis and Mrs Justice Simler, dismissed these claims as "baseless."

Judge Stokes emphasized that Edwards had received a fair trial, stating, "We are wholly satisfied that Edwards received a fair trial. The verdicts are not inconsistent. Nor can there be any reasonable complaints about the trial process, the judge’s summing-up, or the standard of his representation."

Both victims, who were teenagers at the time of the abuse, provided harrowing accounts of their experiences. The rape victim described Edwards as "intimidating and controlling," while the other girl recounted how Edwards, then in his 40s, repeatedly groped her breasts. The court heard that the trauma inflicted by Edwards left lasting scars on both women.

The judge who sentenced Edwards highlighted the profound impact of the abuse, noting that both women were "haunted" by their ordeals. One victim revealed that her life had been overshadowed by flashbacks and depression, and she expressed a chronic fear of encountering Edwards again. This fear was so intense that she had moved house eleven times in an effort to avoid any chance of running into him, leaving her "petrified". The case underscores the long-lasting effects of such heinous crimes and the importance of justice for victims.