A PAEDOPHILE police officer who incited more than 200 young girls to send him degrading pictures and videos of themselves over Snapchat was jailed for life today with a minimum term of 12 years.

Lewis Edwards groomed 210 girls aged between 10 and 16 and forced them to send him indecent images of themselves that he secretly recorded.

He then blackmailed many of his victims with threats to tell their family and friends unless they sent increasingly graphic content — and even sent them videos of him performing sex acts upon himself.

The 24-year-old also threatened to bomb the house of one of his victims and shoot her parents if she stopped sending him images, Cardiff Crown Court was told.

Many of his victims have suffered at his hands — self-harming, feeling suicidal and developing anxiety and depression. 

One was so traumatised she slept with a hammer under her pillow.

Edwards, who joined South Wales Police in January 2021 and has since resigned, had previously pleaded guilty to 22 counts of blackmail, 138 child sex offences and a further offence of refusing to disclose the password to a mobile phone and USB stick.

All but one of the victims were abused while he was a serving police officer, the court heard; he targeted one teenager just 17 days after meeting her as part of his duties.

Investigators found that Edwards was in contact with his victims during working hours, on 30 occasions

Detectives raided the home Edwards shared with his parents in Bridgend, south Wales, in February this year and seized mobile phones, a computer, USB sticks and a hard drive.

Several victims said their trust in the police has been shattered.

Recorder of Cardiff Tracey Lloyd-Clarke said Edwards had gained “sadistic enjoyment” from the distress of his young victims.