RONALD EDWARDS FROM BUCKLEY AND CHESTER SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Buckley and Chester, Ronald Edwards, a 72-year-old resident of Liverpool Road, Buckley, Flintshire, was sentenced to four years in prison for a series of heinous child abuse crimes. The court proceedings revealed that Edwards had engaged in grooming and sexually abusing young children over a period of several years, specifically between May 2004 and May 2008.

Ronald Edwards pleaded guilty to eight separate charges of sexual assault involving children under the age of 13. An additional ninth charge, which was identical in nature, was not pursued by the prosecution. The sentencing took place at Chester Crown Court, where Judge Elgan Edwards, the Recorder of Chester, handed down the sentence. In addition to his prison term, Edwards was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for life and was subjected to a sexual offences prevention order, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes and the need for ongoing monitoring.

Prosecutor Mark Connor detailed the disturbing nature of the abuse, stating that it involved children as young as four years old. The court heard that Edwards had made certain admissions after voluntarily walking into Blacon police station in May of the previous year. The evidence presented indicated that the abuse was not isolated but occurred repeatedly over the years, with Edwards often threatening his young victims to silence them. One of the assaults reportedly took place in a garage in Chester where Edwards had worked, and during that incident, he told the child it was merely a game. On other occasions, Edwards would line up the children before subjecting them to indecent assaults.

Further disturbing details emerged during the trial, including threats made by Edwards to the victims. He warned one child that they would be sent to a children’s home if they reported the abuse, while another was told that the abuse was “their little secret” and instructed not to tell anyone. The prosecutor emphasized that the repeated nature of the abuse, the threats used to silence the victims, and the extended period over which the crimes occurred all contributed to the severity of the case.

Defense lawyer John Philpotts acknowledged that Edwards, who had no previous convictions, did not deny the allegations despite the pain it caused him to admit to such acts. Philpotts also highlighted Edwards’ remorse and his willingness to participate in a sex offenders’ treatment program while incarcerated. Edwards had taken responsibility for his actions by handing himself in and making full admissions after all the victims had been interviewed, demonstrating a degree of remorse and cooperation with authorities.