Man jailed for 14 years for child rape offences in Powys

Edwin Price, who was living in Llanymynech at the time of the offences, sexually abused his victim over a six-month period. The 66-year-old had denied raping the child on at least nine occasions but was convicted following a trial. His sentencing hearing at Mold Crown Court on Friday, March 5, was told that Price initially served two years in prison after the offences came to light in 2005 – due to the fact that his victim described “relatively minor abuse by comparison to what actually happened”.

Judge Niclas Parry said it was only as his victim became older, more mature and stronger that they had “found the courage to report what had actually happened” and the true horror of Price’s offending was revealed.

His repeated offences included raping his victim twice in one day – which proved to be the “catalyst” for reporting the matter, said Judge Parry.

The abuse started out by Price, latterly of The Avenue in Cheadle, Staffordshire, touching his victim over their clothing but Judge Parry said he became “emboldened” by the victim’s “lack of resistance” and it developed into rape.

Judge Parry said the unusual feature of the case was how the victim was unable to describe the full extent of the abuse when it was first reported.

“As a result you were, no doubt, hugely relieved, knowing what you had got away with,” he said.

“You pleaded guilty to that abuse and were sentenced to imprisonment for two years.”

He said the victim remained “plagued” as they got older by the knowledge that the full extent of the abuse had not been disclosed.

Price was released from custody 12 years ago but the further offences came to light in August 2020 when he appeared before Welshpool magistrates.

Mold Crown Court

His victim, now an adult, read a victim impact statement in court in which they described having their world “turned upside down”.

“I have had to endure the most embarrassing and intimate questions as a result of that man not admitting the whole truth about his heinous and repeated, unsolicited abuse of me.

“That man destroyed my childhood.

“I have tried to bury my head in the sand, through drug abuse, and tried to distract my thoughts with self-harm. I have suffered with anxiety my entire adult life.

“The abuse that man made me endure will continue to impact my life. I will never escape that fact. I hope that man will realise the hurt, pain and suffering he has caused and maybe even feel guilty.

“I don’t want retribution, I don’t want revenge, I want people to see I didn’t want life to turn out like this, my life choices were taken away from me.”

Acting for Price, Simon Kelly said: “There’s no mitigation in respect of the offending available to him, above and beyond categorisation of the crimes. Your honour can consider this is a Category 3 offence rather than Category 2.”

In total Price faced six counts – five charges of rape and one of sexual assault – with Judge Parry sentencing on the basis of count six, a charge of multiple rapes.

“There can be no credit, you elected a trial and the victim was forced to relive their dreadful ordeal,” he said.

In sentencing Price to 14 years, Judge Parry told him he will serve at least nine years and four months, after which he will be released on licence.

For an indefinite period he will have to keep police informed of his address and any personal changes to his circumstances.

He will be barred from working with children for life and he was issued with a sexual harm prevention order. This bans him from approaching, associating or communicating with any female child under 16 who is not in the presence of another adult. He also cannot stay overnight or live in any premises where any female child under 16 is present and he is not to enter any school premises or children’s play area, or loiter within 50 metres of any such location, for an indefinite period.