STUART WEDGE, THE BURNLEY SEX OFFENDER, SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC CRUELTY AGAINST CHILDREN IN BURNLEY AND NELSON

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Burnley and Nelson, Stuart Wedge, a man with a long and disturbing history of child abuse, has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison for his latest heinous acts. The court heard how Wedge, aged 48, subjected a nine-year-old boy from Burnley to a brutal campaign of physical and psychological torment, leaving the young victim deeply traumatized and in need of ongoing counseling.

Wedge’s criminal record spans over two decades, with previous convictions for cruelty and sexual offenses involving children as young as three. His past offenses include a series of sadistic acts committed between 1981 and 1986, which involved severe physical abuse and sexual assaults on children under six years old. Notably, in 1983, he assaulted a four-year-old with a stick, and later, he was convicted of cruelty and sex attacks on children aged three, four, and six. His history also includes forcing a three-year-old to sit in front of a fire until he was burned, striking him with a cord, and leaving scars from the fire on his body.

Wedge’s pattern of cruelty extended to other young children, including poking an eight-year-old’s legs with a butcher’s knife, forcing a child to do press-ups until exhaustion, and repeatedly dunking a five-year-old’s head underwater. His violent tendencies were further exemplified by incidents where he poked a girl with a steel knife and stubbed cigarettes out on a child's body. These acts of brutality were often accompanied by taunting, humiliation, and the photographing of his victims’ suffering.

The recent case involved Wedge living with his third wife on Cedar Street in Burnley. Over a two-year period, he inflicted a series of assaults on the nine-year-old boy, including hitting him with a belt and horsewhip, holding a knife to his head, squeezing his fingers with pliers, and shooting him with a ball bearing gun. The court was shown evidence of the boy’s injuries, which caused him significant pain and distress. Wedge also cut the boy’s hair, taped his nose, daubed offensive names on his forehead, and taunted him relentlessly. The young victim’s mother described Wedge as “evil,” expressing her fears that her son might never fully recover from the trauma inflicted.

During the trial, Wedge admitted to ten charges of cruelty but displayed no remorse. Instead, he minimized his actions, blamed others, and continued to deny most of the incidents involving the nine-year-old. The judge, Beverly Lunt, condemned his behavior as disgraceful and pathetic, emphasizing that Wedge remains a danger to children. She imposed an extended license period of two years and issued a lifelong ban on Wedge working with children.

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Julie Monk expressed her disappointment, stating, “We are disappointed that, despite extensive resources regarding his offending from the probation service, this man’s character remains unchanged.”

Wedge’s criminal history reveals a disturbing pattern of violence and abuse dating back to 1981. His offenses include forcing a three-year-old to sit in front of a fire until he was burned, striking him with a cord, and leaving scars. His repeated acts of cruelty and sexual violence against very young children highlight a deeply ingrained pattern of sadistic behavior that has persisted over decades.

Prosecutor Mr. Tim Ashmole explained that the recent offenses came to light after the nine-year-old boy confided in a teaching assistant about his unhappiness. The boy was able to draw a picture of the knife Wedge had held to his head, which led to police involvement. The child also told officers that he had been unable to move when Wedge held him down. Despite the evidence, Wedge initially denied the charges until the day of his trial, showing a lack of remorse and accountability. The boy’s mother described her son as haunted by terrible memories, underscoring the devastating impact of Wedge’s actions.