Bargoed rapist refused permission to appeal sentence

A violent serial rapist from Bargoed has had his application to appeal his 18-year sentence turned down by judges.

Edwin Smith, 43, was convicted of 13 charges, including indecency with a child, rape, serious sexual assault and physical assault, by Newport Crown Court in October 2011.

The offences took place over a 21-year period between 1985 and 2006 and involved four different victims.
During his trial at Newport Crown Court in 2011 Smith escaped custody and was caught trying to run away to the north on the M5 motorway.

Sentencing him the following month, after Smith was caught, Judge Rhys Rowlands said his crimes were among the “worst of their kind”.

Smith was sentenced for multiple rapes and assaults including a prolonged, violent attack on one woman.
The judge said it was a “horrific, depraved assault” and the victim had been “humiliated and abused for a substantial period of time”.

He added: “There is a need to protect the public from serious sexual harm from you and this sentence will ensure that.”
“Your behaviour during your trial, including your failure to return to court, showed you don’t have an ounce of remorse for the harm you have caused to these four women.”

Speaking at the time of Smith’s sentencing, Investigating Officer DC Scott Arthur from Gwent Police’s Public Protection Unit described putting him behind bars.

He said: “This was an extremely complex and sensitive enquiry involving specialist teams from Gwent Police and other outside agencies.

“The victims showed significant bravery and courage not only when they came forward but also when they had to relive their ordeals again whilst giving evidence against the perpetrator which must have been extremely traumatic for them.

“However the result of this is that a very dangerous individual has now received a significant custodial sentence.”

On Thursday July 25, a panel of three High Court Judges sitting at Cardiff Crown Court agreed with the original judge’s sentiments and turned down Smith’s bid to appeal against his sentence.