In 2018, the Offender Database recorded that Edwin Roy was sentenced to 22 months in prison after being caught in a sting operation involving a paedophile hunting team. Following an investigation by Nottinghamshire Police and the group ‘TGA – The Guardian Angels’, the defendant appeared at Nottingham Crown Court where he admitted to 10 counts of sexual abuse. It was reported that Roy—an already convicted sex offender—created a fake online persona to groom who he believed was an underage schoolgirl.
The investigation established that Roy used the name of his cousin, ‘Shane’—who was already serving a prison sentence for unrelated child sexual offences—to mask his identity. Nottinghamshire Police reported that Roy used this alias to send a string of sexually explicit messages to a profile operated by the hunting team. The prosecution reported that during his first police interview, Roy admitted to faking the account with the clear intent of engaging in sexual activity with a child.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Roy’s actions involved seven counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and three counts of inciting a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity. Nottingham Crown Court heard that the evidence handed over by the Guardian Angels provided a clear digital trail of Roy’s predatory intent. The investigation established that despite his previous convictions, Roy had actively sought out a new victim, demonstrating a persistent risk to the community.
Judge-led proceedings concluded with Roy receiving a 22-month custodial sentence. For his actions in Nottingham and his attempt to impersonate a relative to facilitate grooming, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years. The judge also imposed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), noting that Roy’s calculated use of a fake account to target children necessitated long-term monitoring to prevent further offending.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the records reported in England, the status of Edwin Roy as of April 2, 2026, was as follows:
- Custodial Status: SENTENCED 2018 (22-month term; custodial element served).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active until 2028.
- SHPO Status: Sexual Harm Prevention Order active until 2028.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court, following a Nottinghamshire Police investigation.
- Criminal Record: Attempting sexual communication with a child (7 counts); Inciting a child to sexual activity (3 counts); Previous sexual offences.
- Origin: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Roy is managed as a high-risk registered sex offender within the Nottinghamshire area. Due to the nature of his conduct, which involved the use of a family member’s identity to bypass safeguarding and target a child, his management is a priority for the local MOSOVO (Management of Sexual Offenders and Violent Offenders) unit. Authorities state that his history as a re-offender and his ability to create sophisticated fake personas online necessitate rigorous oversight by the MAPPA (Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements) team.
As a registered sex offender until 2028, Roy’s details are permanently logged on the national police database. Authorities state that his 10-year SHPO includes strict prohibitions on his use of social media and a requirement to disclose all digital aliases to his monitoring officer. Any failure to notify police of his residency in Nottingham, any creation of undeclared online accounts, or any further attempts to groom minors will result in immediate arrest to ensure the ongoing safety of the public from his predatory tactics.
QUESTION – Given that this offender used the identity of a relative already in prison for child sex offences to find new victims, do you believe that the families of convicted sex offenders should be subject to mandatory digital monitoring to prevent their identities from being used in this way?
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