A Metropolitan Police officer has been found guilty of rape, following accusations of two previous sexual attacks on women. Between 2018 and 2022, PC Rupert Edwards allegedly raped and sexually assaulted three women on separate occasions.
Edwards reportedly carried out his first attack on New Year's Day in 2018, where he raped a woman. His next two alleged attacks took place just 11 days apart — when he is alleged to have raped one woman in Epsom, Surrey, on August 26, 2022, and the other in Lambeth, south London, on September 5, 2022.
The police officer faced trial for these two alleged attacks in 2023, where a jury found him not guilty for the August 26 incident and failed to return a verdict for the second count of rape on September 5. That same year, another woman contacted the police to report she had been raped by Edwards on January 1, 2018. An investigation began, and Edwards was arrested in April 2024, later charged with rape on March 12, 2025.
During his trial, Southwark Crown Court heard evidence from the two 2022 cases — despite Edwards' acquittal — in order to demonstrate a pattern of behaviour. The jury was shown recorded interviews and court cross-examination of the victims as part of the prosecution case in this trial. Barristers also provided the jury with relevant context from those previous cases to support their understanding of the evidence. This approach, agreed by the court, revealed concerning similarities in Edwards' behaviour and played a key role in securing his conviction.
Yesterday, Edwards was found guilty of rape for the 2018 attack. He will face an accelerated misconduct hearing by the Met Police, where he will be put forward for dismissal.
Chief Superintendent Dan Knowles, in charge of policing for south west London, said: "This was a despicable offence and I have huge admiration and gratitude for the victim for having the courage to come forward and report PC Edwards. Detectives in this case carried out a diligent investigation, ensuring PC Edwards was charged at the earliest opportunity and that the most compelling evidence was brought before the courts. It was a bold step to use evidence from his previous trial to support this latest prosecution and demonstrates our commitment to supporting victims of police perpetrated abuse. Dangerous offenders of all types who seek to harm women and girls will be relentlessly pursued and justice will be served. My message to anyone who may have experienced something that didn't feel right is that you can and should come forward. You will be listened to, and we will do everything we can to support you."
Edwards is due to be sentenced on Friday, July 10.
