Former police officer and his mother sentenced at court

A former police officer who was sacked before being sentenced to life in prison for online child sex offences has appeared in court charged with further offences.

Lewis Edwards, 24, from Bridgend, was jailed in October 2023 for 161 offences which included inciting children to make indecent images online and to engage in sexual activity.

He was charged with perverting the course of justice by concealing mobile phones and three further charges of possession of indecent images. The images were discovered after a mobile phone belonging to Edwards was found concealed in the garden of his home address.

Edwards pleaded guilty to the extra charges and has been sentenced to two years and eight months.

His mother, Rebekah Edwards, aged 48, of Bridgend, admitted concealing mobile phones in the garden after being charged with perverting the course of justice. She has been sentenced to two years in prison.

Detective Superintendent Tracey Rankine said:

“Lewis Edwards is already serving a substantial prison sentence for his abhorrent crimes against children. We are continuing to attempt to identify his many victims from Snapchat usernames to ensure they are safeguarded and supported.

“Given the scale and severity of his offending, it is indefensible for anybody to seek to obstruct the investigation by concealing evidence which is why it was entirely appropriate to bring charges of perverting the course of justice in this case.”

Edwards was sacked as a police officer after being immediately suspended when his offending came to light.