AARON JONES SHOCKING SHOWER SURVEILLANCE IN WORCESTER

In March 2019, Aaron Jones, who is now known as Aaron Darkwood and residing in Bournemouth, was involved in a disturbing incident that brought him back into the criminal justice spotlight. The events took place in Worcester, where Jones faced serious allegations related to secretly recording a victim in a private setting.

On a recent occasion, Jones, aged 40, was brought before Worcester Magistrates Court under escort by two security guards. The court proceedings followed an incident at his home, which drew significant attention due to the nature of the charges. Magistrates learned that Jones had a troubling criminal history, including a previous conviction for offenses involving young boys in 1999. As a result of that earlier conviction, he had been placed on the sex offenders register for life, a measure designed to monitor and restrict his activities due to the severity of his past crimes.

The current case involved Jones admitting to the act of secretly installing a small camera—a Flip camera—in a bathroom at his residence. The camera was hidden within a pipe beneath a towel under the sink, a location that allowed him to covertly record others in private moments. The victim, who was unaware of the camera’s presence, discovered it while sitting on the toilet. Upon finding the device, the victim removed it and reviewed the footage stored on the camera. The recordings revealed Jones placing the camera in the bathroom, capturing the victim both on the toilet and in the shower, actions that constitute serious violations of privacy and trust.

Jones pleaded guilty to the charge of recording a private act for sexual gratification, a crime that underscores the malicious intent behind his actions. The court was informed that he had previously been warned about the possibility of jail time, given his history and the nature of the offense. Despite this, magistrates opted against imprisonment. Instead, they imposed a three-year community order, which requires Jones to be under supervision for that period. Additionally, he was subject to a 10-year sexual offences prevention order (SOPO), a legal restriction that prevents him from taking video or camera images of any person without their explicit permission.

As part of the community order, Jones is mandated to attend a community sex offender groupwork programme, aimed at rehabilitation and monitoring. He is also ordered to pay £250 in compensation to his victim and cover £85 in court costs. During the proceedings, Mr. Hussain, representing the court, noted that Jones’s financial situation was currently uncertain, which could impact his ability to fulfill these financial obligations.

Following the hearing, a spokesperson for Worcestershire County Council, which employs Jones in its customer service hub, issued a statement. The council confirmed that, in line with national policies, they conduct Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks on roles involving contact with children or vulnerable adults. However, customer service positions in the contact centre, where Jones was employed, do not typically fall under this category. The spokesperson clarified that, should any criminal proceedings come to light, the council would initiate an investigation in accordance with their established procedures. The statement concluded with a note that the council declined to specify whether Jones was still employed by them at this time.