It was an ongoing conversation about methods of sexually abusing babies and toddlers that brought Jonathon Lester Edwards to the attention first of US authorities and then of the Australian Federal Police.
Edwards, a 34-year-old chef from Bairnsdale in eastern Victoria, had been speaking with an American woman named Nadia in an online paedophile chatroom when the US-based National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children started monitoring their conversations.
Edwards had a plan to bring Nadia to regional Victoria to live, so they could have a baby and sexually abuse the child.
“I definitely think it’s important to start there. From birth so it’s normalised for them,” Edwards said to Nadia.
In sentencing Edwards today in the Melbourne County Court, Judge Amanda Chambers reminded him of his “sadistic” plans.
“You said, ‘I prefer toddlers to 10-year-olds because they can tell what’s going on and the trouble they are in’,” Judge Chambers said.
“You discussed in explicit and abhorrent terms, the sexual activities you would engage in, with your imprisoned child, including various violent and degrading sexual acts.
“You said, ‘I’m a really normal guy outside of the bedroom with good friends, family and a job, part of sports clubs … but behind closed doors we could live our dreams.”
The ABC has chosen not to detail Edwards’ proposed acts of cruelty towards young children, but his plans included torture and rape.
In the lead-up to sentencing, several relatives, employers and current and former intimate partners provided character references for Edwards.
Judge Chambers sentenced Edwards to 20 months in prison, with a recognisance order to follow.
[Ed: lets hope the prosecution appeal the lenient sentence.].
This man is just getting started he deserved a much bigger sentence his family and friends will be gobsmacked he thinks he is very clever….he is wicked I hope he gets watched for life