October 2008 Sex offender jailed A FALMOUTH man was jailed for four years at Truro Crown Court on Friday after he admitted sexually abusing a teenage girl. Thomas Edwards, 57, of Longfields, last month pleaded guilty to five offences of unlawful sexual activity with a child. He must sign the register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Robin Smith, defending, stressed that Edwards had already paid a very high price for his offending, having lost his marriage, his home and his job. Judge Christopher Elwen told Edwards that had he not pleaded guilty and saved the extremely vulnerable child the ordeal of having to give evidence at a trial, the sentence would have been six years.