In January 2026, the Offender Database reported that Gareth Edwards, 36, of Bridge Street, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, was sentenced to five years in prison at Swansea Crown Court. Edwards, a father of three, was convicted of sexually assaulting a teenage girl after giving her cocaine and trapping her in his vehicle.
The court heard that the incident took place in Aberystwyth in May 2024. Edwards encountered the victim, who was two decades his junior and in an intoxicated, vulnerable state. After providing her with cocaine, he twice sexually assaulted her inside his car. During the ordeal, the girl’s phone rang, but Edwards physically prevented her from answering it to stop her from seeking help. He later attempted to manipulate the victim, telling her to lie about the incident and not to report it to the police. Edwards was identified and arrested following a public appeal by Dyfed-Powys Police.
During the trial, the victim provided a powerful statement, explaining that she chose to give evidence “to keep other girls safe.” She described how the assault had transformed her from a “bubbly person” into someone withdrawn and isolated. Despite Edwards maintaining his innocence, he was convicted of sexual assault and assault by penetration. The court heard he had a history of 24 previous convictions, including a breach of a community order for malicious communications just months before this attack.
On January 7, 2026, Gareth Edwards was sentenced to five years in prison. Judge Huw Rees told the defendant he had “taken advantage of the situation” and exploited the victim’s vulnerability. Edwards will serve half of his term in custody before being released on licence. He was also handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which includes strict conditions regarding his contact with young people.
As a result of his convictions for serious sexual offences, Gareth Edwards has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life. He is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) in Ceredigion. This involves permanent monitoring by Dyfed-Powys Police and the National Probation Service to manage the risk he poses and ensure the protection of the public in Mid Wales.
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