EDWARD RICE FROM COATBRIDGE AND SEATON SENTENCED FOR ABUSING SISTERS IN LANARKSHIRE

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Coatbridge and Seaton, Edward Rice, a 72-year-old man originally from Seaton, has been convicted and sentenced for a series of heinous crimes committed against two sisters over two decades ago in Lanarkshire. The disturbing revelations only surfaced after one of the victims confided in her partner in 2006, leading to a lengthy investigation and eventual court proceedings.

Edward Campbell Rice, who at the time of the offenses resided on Branthwaite Lane in Seaton, Cumbria, carried out his abusive acts at a residence in Coatbridge between the years 1986 and 1997. The abuse was kept hidden for many years, with the victims suffering in silence until the younger sister, now 28, decided to speak out. Her disclosure prompted her older sister, aged 35, to come forward and reveal that Rice had also subjected her to abuse.

The court heard that Rice's misconduct included a particularly disturbing incident where he instructed one of the girls to go into a bathroom while he was bathing, during which he sexually assaulted her. He then threatened her, warning that if she told anyone, he would ensure that everyone she loved would be taken away from her. These threats and abuses left deep scars on the victims, who endured years of trauma.

Throughout the trial, Rice denied four charges related to lewd, indecent, and libidinous practices, which included two charges under the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act, one under the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act, and one count of common law indecent assault. Despite his denials, a jury at Glasgow High Court found him guilty in June. Subsequently, on August 10, at Aberdeen High Court, Lord Stephen Woolman sentenced Rice to a total of six years in prison, with an additional three years of concurrent two-year sentences.

The case also revealed that Rice had a history of exposing himself to one of the girls in a car on multiple occasions and had sexually assaulted both sisters. Initially, he faced charges of raping the 35-year-old when she was just 12 years old; however, during the trial, the Advocate Depute withdrew this charge, and Rice was formally acquitted of that specific allegation. Nevertheless, he was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely, marking a lifetime of monitoring due to the severity of his crimes.

Residents of Seaton expressed their shock and disbelief upon learning of Rice’s conviction. Many noted that they had not seen him around recently and had suspected that something was amiss. An elderly man described Rice as a “normal bloke,” adding, “He seemed to be all right. I never thought he’d be capable of something like that. I have a family, with 12 grandchildren, and I find cases like this to be extremely distasteful.”

Another local resident remarked, “We knew he hadn’t been around for a while, but no-one knew why. This is a huge shock.” An elderly woman commented, “His wife will be distraught. She is a good, churchgoing woman. I cannot believe it.” The community now grapples with the reality of the crimes committed by someone they once considered an ordinary member of their neighborhood.