AN "ACCOMPLISHED athlete" and Taekwondo trainer has been jailed after sexually abusing a number of young boys.
Glen Edwards, of Victoria Road in Wrexham, appeared at Mold Crown Court via video link from prison on Monday morning.
The 32-year-old had been convicted after trial on a number of child sex offences, and had admitted several more at an earlier hearing.
His crimes included:
- Sexual activity with a child x3
- Causing or inciting a child to engage in a sexual act x3
- Causing a child to watch a sex act x2
- Sexual communication with a child x5
- Causing or inciting child prostitution or pornography
- Possession of indecent images of children x4
- Possession of prohibited images of children
Ember-Jade Wong, prosecuting, told the court the defendant's offences were committed against eight victims - all young boys.
She summarised a victim impact statement written by the mother of one of the boys.
The mum branded Edwards a "cowardly man" whose crimes had left her child "a shell of himself."
Jemma Gordon, defending, asked the court to grant her client credit for the offences he'd pleaded guilty to and to reflect totality in the overall sentence.
"I accept the contents of the probation report will be concerning for the court," she said.
"Particularly the risk assessment.
"Having spoken to him this morning, he recognises that there's going to be an intervention that needs to be done with him.
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"He is going to have to engage with this to reduce the risk he currently poses."
Ms Gordon said Taekwondo had been a large part of her client's life and due to his offending, he would no longer be able to return to the employment he held.
She said: "It will be a significant change for him - he recognises there will also be an impact on his family."
Judge Niclas Parry told Edwards he had used "manipulative" behaviour to groom his victims.
"There was a significant disparity in age between you," he said.
"And you have shown no remorse whatsoever. You continue to evidence no victim empathy.
"During this offending, you were also making images of serious sexual abuse of young boys by using the internet, if any evidence was required of your interest in such matters.
"And you continued doing that whilst on police bail."
Judge Parry commented on Edwards' "bizarre" attitude, in that he believed the prosecution had "only targeted him due to his gender".
Edwards tried to claim that had a woman been in a similar situation, the case would not have been prosecuted - a view the Judge dismissed as incorrect.
"In mitigation, you pleaded guilty to the most serious offence," the Judge continued.
"I give you credit - and you have pleaded guilty to other images matters.
"I bear in mind you have clearly been a dedicated, hard-working and accomplished athlete.
"You're now professionally ruined by virtue of these offences."
Edwards showed no emotion as the Judge jailed him for a total of six years and 10 months in total.
He was made subject to the notification provisions as a sex offender for life, as well as a sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order to protect his eight victims - also for life.
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