GARETH EDWARDS NETHERTON SEX OFFENDER JAILED OVER CENTER PARCS TRIP BUT SENT HOME BEFORE SEEING A CELL

In a surprising turn of events at Liverpool Magistrates' Court, Gareth Edwards, a known sex offender from Netherton, was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison for breaching his notification requirements, yet he was released on bail immediately after the hearing, before even stepping into a jail cell. The case centered around Edwards' visit to Center Parcs with a woman he was dating and her three children, a trip that raised serious concerns given his criminal history.

Edwards, aged 30, had previously served time for a conviction related to encouraging a female under the age of 16 to engage in sexual activity. His prior sentence, handed down in 2016, was a 16-week term suspended for two years, along with an order to register as a sex offender for seven years. Despite these restrictions, Edwards was found to have breached his notification obligations by staying at an address with a child for more than 12 hours and residing at an address for over seven days within a year without informing police authorities.

The incident came to light when Edwards was brought before the court on Monday for these breaches. Olivia Brady, prosecuting, outlined that Edwards had met the woman online and had stayed with her on weekends and during Christmas in 2019. She clarified that Edwards had never been alone with the children but had holidayed with the family and her parents at Center Parcs. Importantly, the court was informed that the woman was unaware of Edwards' previous convictions at the time they began their relationship.

During the hearing, District Judge Paul Healey confirmed that the initial contact between Edwards and the woman was established through online dating in February 2019. When Edwards was asked why he was not represented by a solicitor, he explained that he could not afford one. After being given time to consider hiring legal counsel, Edwards chose to proceed without representation, asserting his desire to continue with the sentencing process unrepresented.

The court heard that Edwards had breached notification rules by staying at an address with a child for more than 12 hours and by residing at an address for more than seven days without registering with police. When questioned about these breaches, Edwards admitted that he was unaware that the second breach accumulated over time, although he claimed to have informed someone about it. He also explained that he had been going through a turbulent relationship, during which he experienced a window being put through, and that he had told the woman he was seeing about his past conviction.

Edwards stated that after revealing his criminal history, they continued their relationship, and he even informed social services. He recounted a conversation where she responded positively, saying, 'OK what happens now?' He also expressed remorse, stating that he had fully complied with his suspended sentence and had admitted to the breaches at the earliest opportunity. When asked why he did not disclose his conviction earlier, Edwards explained that he was being blackmailed by an ex-partner and was in a turbulent emotional state.

The judge emphasized the importance of notification requirements, explaining that they are in place to protect the public, especially when starting new relationships. Edwards was asked why it took him a year to disclose his past, to which he responded that he did not see the woman often and was busy working full-time helping to build hospitals, including the new Nightingale hospitals. Despite the seriousness of the breaches, District Judge Healey decided to suspend the 16-week sentence, noting that the notification requirements for Edwards as a sex offender are not due to end until 2023, and he urged Edwards to adhere strictly to these conditions moving forward.