Man who sexually abused young girl jailed for eight years

A man has been jailed for eight years after being convicted of abusing a young girl.
Dean EdwardsDean Edwards
Dean Edwards

Dean Edwards (42) of Long Lane, Gedney Hill, Spalding, shook his head in the dock as he was given the sentence today (Friday).

The court heard how Edwards abused the girl when she was aged under 11.

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He was found guilty of seven counts of sexually assaulting a child aged under 13 following a trial at Peterborough Crown Court last month - but despite the guilty verdicts, the court was told he continued to deny the offences.

He had sobbed in the dock when the guilty verdicts were announced at the end of his trial.

Gemma Stokes, prosecuting told the court his young victim thought his abusive behaviour was ‘normal,’ and did not report the abuse straight away.

Edwards was interviewed by police in 2014 in connection with the abuse, where he denied any involvement.

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Miss Stokes said: “The matter has had a lasting effect on the girl.”

Defending, Roger Harrison said: “He (Edwards) says he did not commit the acts.

“There is no medical evidence of severe psychological harm.

“He has no relevant convictions recorded against him.”

Judge Sean Enright, sentencing, said despite Edward’s denials, the evidence during the trial was ‘clear cut’ and the victim was a ‘compelling witness.’

He said: “This girl has not had a normal, healthy childhood.”

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Detective Constable Craig Doyle said: “Edwards subjected his young victim to a horrendous ordeal.

“The victim showed great courage to come forward and I hope the sentence passed today brings some closure for her and her family.”

Along with the eight year sentence, a restraining order was put in place for 10 years, banning Edwards from contacting the victim.

He was also banned from having any unsupervised contact with girls aged under 11 apart from in unforeseeable and unavoidable circumstances, and banned from taking any employment which would be likely to lead him to have unsupervised contact with girls aged under 11 for 10 years.

He was told he would be placed on the sex offenders register for an indefinite period.

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