Ex-Taekwondo world champion Glen Edwards jailed for sex abuse

The evidence was “quite overwhelming”, Judge Parry said during sentencing, telling Edwards his victims were “in awe of your remarkable achievements at sport”.

“Rather bizarrely you claim only to have been targeted for prosecution because of your gender,” the judge added.

Edwards, who appeared by video link from HMP Berwyn, will be on the sex offenders register for life and the judge said he was “now professionally ruined”.

Prosecuting barrister Simon Rogers said Edwards “groomed” youngsters, adding: “No doubt the defendant was charming, no doubt he was charismatic, but sadly the truth was he had a sexual interest in them.”

Edwards accepted he had a sexual conversation with an underage boy but claimed it had been a “joke” and during his trial he accused his victims of lying.

The victims said they were sent pictures of Edwards and one was sent a video of him in the shower.

Edwards claimed he was not communicating sexually with the victims but did plead guilty to one count of sexual activity with a child and possessing indecent images of children.