Jailed for series of sexual assaults

A MAN found guilty of a series of sexual assaults on a woman has been locked up for five years.

John Joseph Edwards was also found guilty of voyeurism but cleared of two charges of raping the woman.

The 38-year-old, from Caeau Gleision, Rhiwlas, near Bangor, denied all the charges and a jury of nine men and three women spent more than seven hours deliberating their verdicts.

Jailing Edwards at the end of a five-day hearing, Judge Huw Rees described the victim as vulnerable.

The judge said the charge of voyeurism was “less serious but no less distasteful”, adding: “It left her feeling violated and your conduct, over a significant period of time, was sly and deviant.”

He ordered that Edwards’ details be held on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

Defence barrister Elen Owen told the judge Edwards was a “man of exemplary conduct” who was highly regarded by his employers and who had carried out valuable work for charity.

She added Edwards had always denied the offences, but had to accept he had now been convicted.

The jury heard the assaults had been carried out on various dates between 2002 and 2015. The woman reported the matter to police last year.