Pc Rupert Edwards, a serving Metropolitan Police officer, has been charged with raping two women and has been granted bail. Edwards, who is 30 years old, is accused of committing the alleged attacks on two women, who are in their 20s and 30s, on August 26 in Epsom, Surrey and on September 5 in Lambeth, south London. He was off-duty at the time of the alleged rapes.
Edwards, who is from Ashstead, Surrey, was detained after appearing in Westminster Magistrates’ Court on December 9. On Friday, Judge Freya Newbery granted Edwards conditional bail at Inner London Crown Court. He will be required to live and sleep at his aunt’s address in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, with an electronic curfew between 8pm and 8am.
Edwards is not allowed to enter the M25 area, except for court appearances or pre-arranged meetings with his lawyers, and must not contact any of the complainants or prosecution witnesses in the case. Scotland Yard has previously stated that Edwards, who is attached to the South West basic command unit, was arrested on suspicion of rape on September 5 and was released on bail while being suspended from duty.
On December 8, he was arrested again on suspicion of rape and was charged the following day. A plea and trial preparation hearing is scheduled for Monday.