ARTHUR EDWARDS FROM REDRUTH SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE CASES INVOLVING FOUR GIRLS
In a case that has shocked the community of Redruth, Arthur Edwards, an 80-year-old resident of Wesley Street, has been convicted and sentenced for a series of heinous child abuse crimes spanning over three decades.The court proceedings revealed that Edwards was responsible for abusing four young girls between the years 1975 and 2010, with the abuse leaving a lasting impact on his victims.
During the trial, it was disclosed that several of Edwards' victims were present in the public gallery, visibly showing their relief and appreciation when the verdict was delivered and he was sentenced.
The court heard harrowing details about one victim who endured repeated abuse over a period exceeding ten years, a trauma that the judge described as having “destroyed her life.” The most recent abuse occurred in 2009 and 2010, when Edwards, then a pensioner, was found to have fondled a young girl’s bottom over her clothes.
The charges against him included 10 counts of indecent assault on a child under 16, two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a minor, and two counts of indecency with a child.
In sentencing, Edwards received a total of seven years in prison.
The court ordered him to serve four years for the offences against one victim, while three additional consecutive sentences of 12 months each were imposed for crimes committed against the other three victims.
Due to the nature and timing of some of the offences, Edwards will be required to serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before being eligible for parole or release.
Defense lawyer Joss Ticehurst acknowledged the limited options available in defending Edwards, citing his advanced age and declining health as mitigating factors.
Ticehurst stated, “He is 80 and his health is less than perfect because of his age.” Furthermore, Edwards was subjected to strict conditions upon his release.
He is prohibited from having unsupervised contact with children under 16 and has been placed on the sex offenders register for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to protect potential future victims.
