PHILIP EDWARDS FROM TIVERTON SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE IN NORTH DEVON
| Red Rose Database
Tiverton Rapist
In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of North Devon, Philip Edwards, a former school bus driver from Tiverton, has been sentenced to prison for his involvement in a disturbing case of child sexual abuse that dates back to the 1970s.
Edwards, who at the time was working as a long-distance lorry driver, engaged in a prolonged pattern of grooming and abusing a young girl starting when she was just 12 years old. The abuse continued over several years, culminating in the girl becoming pregnant at the age of 13. The child was born in 1980, and her traumatic experiences have had a lasting impact on her life.
The victim confided in social workers that Philip Edwards was the father of her child. However, it was not until 2013 that DNA testing conclusively proved his paternity. Edwards initially denied any sexual contact with the girl, claiming that he must have had sex with her in his sleep without realizing it. This bizarre assertion was met with skepticism by the jury.
At Exeter Crown Court, Edwards faced charges related to his grooming and sexual activities. The court heard that he had engaged in sexual acts with the girl in various locations, including the cab of his lorry, lay-bys while en route to a pub in Cadeleigh to buy her cigarettes, and even in a chicken coop in his garden. The abuse reportedly began while he was living in Exeter and continued when she visited him at a residence near Tiverton.
Initially, Edwards was charged with rape; however, a statement from the victim revealed that her grooming had been so effective that their sexual encounters were, at least initially, consensual. Due to the statute of limitations in the 1970s, which limited charges to offences committed within two years, he could not be prosecuted for rape. Instead, he faced charges of indecent assault, which involved touching and kissing during grooming and some sexual acts.
Philip Edwards, now 68 and residing on Broad Lane in Tiverton, denied six counts of indecent assault. Despite his denial, the jury found him guilty, and he was sentenced to 20 months in prison. Judge Ian Lawrie, QC, expressed that the sentence could have been longer but was constrained by the maximum penalty for indecent assault at the time.
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Lawrie emphasized the gravity of Edwards' actions, stating, “The victim was young, emotionally vulnerable and unhappy. You exploited that unhappiness and pushed the boundaries at an age where she had little knowledge or experience. Your motive was always sexual. You did not appreciate the impact on her because, like most sex offenders, you are a selfish individual. You did not care about her. You took advantage of her for your own base purposes.”
The judge further condemned Edwards’ attempt to justify his actions with a “ridiculous explanation” about impregnating the girl, highlighting the immeasurable harm caused and the long-lasting unhappiness inflicted upon the victim. He concluded by stating that Edwards had “destroyed her life” but still failed to fully comprehend the extent of his wrongdoing.
Defense lawyer Mr. David Evans pointed out that Edwards had not been accused of abusing any other children in over three decades since these offences. He emphasized Edwards’ subsequent career, noting that he established his own taxi business after working as a lorry driver and spent many years transporting thousands of children as a school bus driver in North and Mid Devon without any complaints about his conduct.
Edwards, who at the time was working as a long-distance lorry driver, engaged in a prolonged pattern of grooming and abusing a young girl starting when she was just 12 years old. The abuse continued over several years, culminating in the girl becoming pregnant at the age of 13. The child was born in 1980, and her traumatic experiences have had a lasting impact on her life.
The victim confided in social workers that Philip Edwards was the father of her child. However, it was not until 2013 that DNA testing conclusively proved his paternity. Edwards initially denied any sexual contact with the girl, claiming that he must have had sex with her in his sleep without realizing it. This bizarre assertion was met with skepticism by the jury.
At Exeter Crown Court, Edwards faced charges related to his grooming and sexual activities. The court heard that he had engaged in sexual acts with the girl in various locations, including the cab of his lorry, lay-bys while en route to a pub in Cadeleigh to buy her cigarettes, and even in a chicken coop in his garden. The abuse reportedly began while he was living in Exeter and continued when she visited him at a residence near Tiverton.
Initially, Edwards was charged with rape; however, a statement from the victim revealed that her grooming had been so effective that their sexual encounters were, at least initially, consensual. Due to the statute of limitations in the 1970s, which limited charges to offences committed within two years, he could not be prosecuted for rape. Instead, he faced charges of indecent assault, which involved touching and kissing during grooming and some sexual acts.
Philip Edwards, now 68 and residing on Broad Lane in Tiverton, denied six counts of indecent assault. Despite his denial, the jury found him guilty, and he was sentenced to 20 months in prison. Judge Ian Lawrie, QC, expressed that the sentence could have been longer but was constrained by the maximum penalty for indecent assault at the time.
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Lawrie emphasized the gravity of Edwards' actions, stating, “The victim was young, emotionally vulnerable and unhappy. You exploited that unhappiness and pushed the boundaries at an age where she had little knowledge or experience. Your motive was always sexual. You did not appreciate the impact on her because, like most sex offenders, you are a selfish individual. You did not care about her. You took advantage of her for your own base purposes.”
The judge further condemned Edwards’ attempt to justify his actions with a “ridiculous explanation” about impregnating the girl, highlighting the immeasurable harm caused and the long-lasting unhappiness inflicted upon the victim. He concluded by stating that Edwards had “destroyed her life” but still failed to fully comprehend the extent of his wrongdoing.
Defense lawyer Mr. David Evans pointed out that Edwards had not been accused of abusing any other children in over three decades since these offences. He emphasized Edwards’ subsequent career, noting that he established his own taxi business after working as a lorry driver and spent many years transporting thousands of children as a school bus driver in North and Mid Devon without any complaints about his conduct.