Mumbai, September 2: A former police officer who was found in possession of hundreds of photos of child abuse entered a pleaded guilty to at least 146 sex crimes. Lewis Edwards, 23, of Bridgend, acknowledged 106 counts back in May and on Friday, he pleaded guilty to 40 more. More than 4,500 indecent photos of children, including more than 700 in the most severe category, were allegedly in his possession, Cardiff Crown Court was informed.

When South Wales Police learned of questionable internet activities, it launched an investigation. Images of child abuse were downloaded in this process from the dark web. Then, it was revealed that Edwards was a current member of that unit. His 10-year-old victim was the youngest one, as revealed to the court. Australia Shocker: Former Childcare Worker in Gold Coast Charged With 1,623 Sex Abuse Offences Against 91 Children Within Country and Abroad.

Twenty-three of the charges involved persuading a kid to participate in sexual activity, six involved seeing a child perform a sexual act, nine involved creating lewd photos, one involved child exploitation, and one involved trying to urge a child to engage in such behaviour.

He pled guilty to 14 blackmail counts in addition to the child sex offences, which happened from 2020 to 2023. These entailed making unauthorised requests for pornographic photographs of youngsters. Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke gave Edwards another detention order. He will receive a sentence on October 23.

Previously,  a former RAF worker who raped one minor and sexually assaulted another was sentenced to 19 and a half years in prison. Glenn Poyner, 35, formerly of RAF Benson in Oxfordshire, received a sentence on Friday at Shrewsbury Crown Court, sitting at Telford Magistrates' Court, for eight child sex crimes against two girls, including four charges of rape. US: Indian-Origin Man Arrested for Attempt to Murder, Child Abuse for Driving Tesla off Cliff With Family Inside; All Occupants Survive.

One survivor said that the assault had made it difficult for her to sleep, while the other claimed that she "lives in constant fear" in victim impact statements read aloud in court. Poyner admitted to the rapes, one crime of penetration assault, one count of inciting a child under the age of 13 to participate in sexual behaviour, and two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a minor at a hearing in May.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 02, 2023 05:05 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).