WHEN a bin lorry came down Chelsea Jones’ street, she could never have imagined it would lead to her coming face-to-face with the one person who destroyed her childhood.
As the young mum, 25, from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, arrived home from the school run, the smirking binman that was taking her trash was Aidan Edwards – the man who raped her when she was just 12 years old.
Chelsea froze in fear after locking eyes with a smirking binmanCredit: Focus Features
The young mum was brutally raped when she was just 12 years oldCredit: Focus Features
Chelsea was horrified to find her rapist, Aidan Edwards, emptying her bins outside her homeCredit: Focus Features
Thirteen years ago, she was brutally raped by Edwards, then 14 years old, who was later sentenced to three years behind bars.
The teen monster ambushed her in a local field, yanked her to the floor and violently lasting twenty minutes.
Despite the severe trauma, she tried to rebuild her life, but was horrified last month to find Edwards, now 27, outside her home.
The mum-of-one, 25, said: “The attack was 13 years ago but there’s not a day passes that I don’t think of it.
“I had to drop out of school and I left with . I can’t have a relationship because of my trauma.
“I was so badly injured internally after the attack that . I thought he was going to kill me.
“I’ve done my best to carry on, but one day in September I came back from the school run and found him emptying my bins.”
Among the anger and fear coursing through her veins, she felt a bitter injustice at the fact her attacker is freely roaming her street.
Describing the horrifying moment, she added: “He just stood in the middle of the pavement smirking at me.
“I don’t understand why he was allowed to get a job as a binman or why he is allowed onto my street.
“Surely for a violent sexual , the exclusion order ought to be indefinite.
“It feels like he’s got his life back and I am the one in . I dare not leave my house in case I bump into him again.”
Chelsea and Edwards were part of the same friendship group as , though he was three years older.
‘I thought I was going to die’
Before the attack, he had asked Chelsea to be his girlfriend, but she politely declined because she was too young.
She went on to explain that she “wasn’t interested in boys”.
But in May 2013, when Chelsea was just 12, Edwards ambushed her on a local field. He pulled her to the floor before violently raping her.
She had tried to fend off her attacker, but his greater physicality and age allowed him to easily put a stop to her struggling.
I dropped out of school and didn’t take any exams. I struggled to trust anyone.
Chelsea Jones
He says: “He had his hand over my mouth. He pulled my joggers down and raped me.
“I was trying to fight him. I managed to get my phone out, but he snatched it and threw it away.
“He then raped me orally and I was choking, I thought I was going to die. He was nearly three years older than me and much stronger.”
She believes the attack lasted around 20 minutes before she finally managed to escape.
Chelsea told how she was left “bleeding heavily” after the attack.
She added: “I was bleeding heavily, it was all down my joggers. When I got home, Mum thought I’d been stabbed.”
After the horror attack, Aidan Edwards was quickly arrested.
Chelsea opened up on the torture she endured after Edwards initially pleaded not guilty to his sickening crimes.
She believed she would have to give evidence, forcing her to relive the horrific ordeal.
Edwards ambushed Chelsea on a local field in May 2013Credit: Focus Features
Before the attack, Edwards had asked Chelsea to be his girlfriend, but she politely declinedCredit: Focus Features
Chelsea recognised her attacker immediately as he sifted through her binsCredit: Focus Features
Chelsea said: “I really struggled after the attack. I had to have tests which were very invasive.
“He pleaded not guilty in the months before, so I thought I’d had to give evidence.
“I dropped out of school and didn’t take any exams. I struggled to trust anyone.”
Edwards appeared before Crown as a youth defendant and pleaded guilty to rape in February 2016.
He was convicted of two counts of rape and later sentenced to three years in prison.
A spokesperson said: “As part of his sentencing, he was also placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely.”
‘You raped me’
After dropping out of school and having her childhood viciously taken away from her, Chelsea bravely tried to put her ordeal behind her.
The young mum went on to raise a son, now aged 6.
But her world came crashing down when the sickening memories came flooding back last month.
She stopped in her tracks as she recognised her attacker immediately, working as a binman and now emptying her wheelie bin.
At first, I froze. He was right outside my house, with my bin, smirking at me. I was terrified.
Chelsea Jones
Chelsea said: “I would know him anywhere. I even recognised him from the back.
“At first, I froze. He was right outside my house, with my bin, smirking at me. I was terrified.
“He went to empty my grandad’s bin, who lives opposite, and I suddenly snapped to my senses.
“I said to him: ‘You raped me’ and I took his photo.”
The convicted rapist was sacked from his council job that same day.
A spokesman for the council explained Edwards did not declare his conviction when he applied for the job.
He said: “The resident filed a formal complaint to the council which has been investigated.
“We can confirm the individual in question was provided to the council via an external agency.
“The information we hold demonstrates the individual did not declare the conviction, despite being requested to do so – as is required.
“We have terminated the agency appointment for this individual.
“We take complaints of this nature extremely seriously, and we thank the resident for their bravery in speaking out.”
Rape helplines - where to get help
If you've been sexually assaulted it's important to remember that it was not your fault.
Sexual violence is a crime, no matter who commits it or where it happens. Don’t be afraid to get help.
There are services that can help if you’ve been sexually assaulted, raped or abused.
You don’t have to report the assault to the police if you don’t want to. You may need time to think about what has happened to you.
Sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) offer medical, practical and emotional support to anyone who has been raped, sexually assaulted or abused.
SARCs have specially trained doctors, nurses and support workers to care for you. You can get help from a SARC by booking an appointment with your nearest one.
Other places you can get help include:
- a doctor or practice nurse at your GP surgery
- a voluntary organisation, such as Rape Crisis , Women’s Aid , Victim Support , The Survivors Trust or Male Survivors Partnership
- the 24-hour freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge , on 0808 2000 247
- the rape and sexual abuse support line run by Rape Crisis England and Wales – you can call the helpline on 0808 500 2222 or use the online chat (both are free and are open 24 hours a day, every day of the year)
- a hospital accident and emergency (A&E) department
- a genitourinary medicine (GUM) or sexual health clinic
- a contraceptive clinic
- a young people’s service
- call NHS 111 or get help from 111 online
- the police, or dial 101
- in an emergency, dial 999
But despite his sacking, she remains terrified he will come after her.
Chelsea refuses to leave her home at the risk of bumping into him again.
She added: “My anxiety is so bad, I can’t even work – yet he is allowed to work right outside my house.
“He committed the worst crime possible and he shouldn’t be allowed on my street for the rest of his life.
“The police advised me to move away but I live opposite my granddad, and I can’t leave him on his own.
“Besides, why should I move? I did nothing wrong.
“If he had any remorse or guilt at all, he wouldn’t appear outside my house. He would move away and let me try to heal.”
Chelsea refuses to leave her home at the risk of bumping into Edwards againCredit: Focus Features 
