May 2019 Paedophile jailed for the “wicked and depraved” rape of 12-year-old girl A Lincolnshire man has been jailed for the “wicked and depraved” rape of a 12-year-old girl. Edward Church, 68, was also convicted of seven charges of indecent assault on two other girls, who were under 13 at the time. He was branded “dangerous” by Judge Andrew Easteal when he appeared at Lincoln Crown Court, on Wednesday, May 1 for sentence. A court had previously heard that Church, of Alderlands Close, Crowland, raped the girl in a car 10 years ago, while the sexual assaults took place in the early 2000’s when he was living in a village between Sleaford and Grantham. He had previously been found guilty of the charges by a jury after a trial. Tony Stanford, prosecuting, said the victims are now adults and added: “Two of those victims were very young when this happened to them.” Moving victim impact statements were read out to the court from two of Church’s victims. One said she still suffered from bad dreams, while the other woman said she still lived in fear of being attacked and had trust issues. The court heard Church was sentenced to three years probation in 1970 for indecently assaulting a seven-year-old girl. Passing sentence Judge Andrew Easteal told Church he had no hesitation in regarding him as “dangerous” and jailed him for 17 years. Judge Easteal said: “Your treatment of all of your victims was both wicked and depraved.” After his release from prison Church will also serve an additional three years while on licence. He was also made the subject of a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order.