Sneinton Rapist Jailed For 18 Years For Knifepoint Attack

19 December 2014, 13:08 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

A 36-year-old man, who sexually assaulted another woman while he awaited trial for rape, has been jailed for 18 years.

Iain Edwards, of no fixed address, was convicted of sex offences at Nottingham Crown Court yesterday (Thursday 19th Dec)

It's after police were called to a warehouse in June, in Handel Street, Sneinton, in search of a man they wanted to speak to about a sexual assault the previous night.

A 27-year-old woman had reported that at about 11pm a man had put a Stanley knife to her throat, dragged her into a warehouse and forced her to perform sexual acts on him.

When officers arrived at the warehouse though he'd barricaded himself inside and threatened to light petrol he claimed to have with him.

Edwards was already waiting to go on trial for the rape of a woman in 2013. That August he had held a then 25-year-old at his former home in Beeston, threatened her with a knife and raped her.

He was arrested and charged in connection with that incident. He was on court bail, awaiting trial, when he struck again.

On 12 June, after a nearly nine-hour stand-off with the police, negotiators persuaded Edwards to come out from the building. He was arrested.

Edwards was convicted of two counts of forcing a woman to engage in sexual activity without her consent for the June incident. He was also found guilty of three counts of rape against the woman in 2013.

He was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for the 2013 assaults and three years for the 2014 assaults, to run consecutively. He will not be considered for parole before the full 18 years are up.

Calling Edwards ‘dangerous’, Judge James Sampson extended this jail term by six years. He also ordered him to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

Detective Constable Alice Dingwall said: “The fact that Edwards was due to stand trial for rape was obviously not enough to stop him offending again, but this ultimately led to his demise.

“I’d like to acknowledge the two women at the centre of this case. They have shown bravery and dignity in giving evidence at the trial, despite being left traumatised by the attacks. I hope this lengthy jail term gives them some comfort knowing that Edwards can no longer hurt them.

“As for the wider community, knowing he is no longer free to roam means we can all sleep a little better at night.”