ALBERT JONES FROM WEST BYFLEET CAUGHT IN SEXUAL CHAT SCANDAL IN DORSET AND COLCHESTER

In October 2018, Albert Jones, a 51-year-old explosive expert from West Byfleet, Surrey, was apprehended after engaging in disturbing online conversations with an undercover police officer posing as a 13-year-old girl. The incident unfolded as Jones believed he was communicating with a minor, and he sent sexually explicit messages and images to the officer, who was operating under the guise of a teenage girl.

Jones, who was employed by a Ministry of Defence explosive clearance unit, frequently traveled across the south east of England for his work. During his travels, he stayed at various hotels, including locations in Dorset and Marks Tey, where he initiated contact with what he thought were underage girls. His method of communication involved using MyLOL, a social media and dating platform popular among teenagers, which he exploited to establish inappropriate relationships.

According to the court proceedings, from July 2017 until February of the following year, Jones engaged in multiple conversations with undercover officers on the platform. Prosecutor Andrew Jackson revealed that Jones often asked the supposed teenagers if they would like to go to the cinema with him, indicating a desire to meet in person. During one exchange, Jones disclosed his age as 47, prompting the undercover officer to question whether he thought a 13-year-old was too young. Jones responded nonchalantly, stating, “He didn’t mind.”

Authorities eventually obtained Jones’s mobile phone number, which allowed them to track his vehicle using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology. This led to his arrest and subsequent investigation. During questioning, Jones admitted to three counts of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and one count of attempting to communicate sexually with a child.

His offending was committed while staying at hotels in Dorset and Marks Tey, areas with notable military connections, which aligns with his employment background. The court heard that although police had been aware of Jones’s activities since his arrest in Colchester in May, they had not taken immediate action, partly due to his ongoing mental health struggles since 2012. His defense lawyer, Paul Donegan, explained that Jones had used his own profile picture on the social media platform and was working in a sensitive role for the Ministry of Defence, which involved searching for explosive devices across the south east.

Judge John Devaux sentenced Albert Jones to two and a half years in prison, emphasizing the seriousness of his actions and the breach of trust involved in his conduct. The case highlights the dangers posed by online grooming and the importance of vigilant law enforcement efforts to protect minors from exploitation.