ASHLEY JONES GROOMING TEEN IN KESTON: SHOCKING CRIME NEAR STROUD

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community, Ashley Jones, a 27-year-old man from Keston, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for grooming a 14-year-old girl from Stroud. The incident unfolded over a period of several months, during which Jones exploited his position as a volunteer helper at a combined cadet force event at the girl’s school to establish a sinister connection.

Jones first met the young girl in March of the previous year during a cadet weekend at her school, an event that he attended as a volunteer. Their relationship appeared innocent at first, but it quickly took a darker turn. The girl, who was only 14 at the time, became infatuated with Jones, and their interactions soon escalated beyond innocent conversations. The court heard that Jones and the girl engaged in sexual activities that stopped short of full intercourse, but the nature of their contact was deeply inappropriate and concerning.

Much of their communication was conducted through digital means, specifically via Facebook and text messaging. Prosecutor Julian Kesner detailed that Jones used these platforms to groom the girl, sending her sexually explicit and 'salacious' messages. These messages, some of which were described as sexually explicit, were so inappropriate that Judge Jamie Tabor QC expressed hope that the girl’s mother would never have to see them, highlighting the severity of the content.

Jones, who resides at Garden Cottage on Westerham Road in Keston, Kent, pleaded guilty to multiple charges. These included three counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child between August and November 2010, and one count of sexual grooming. The court was told that Jones’s interactions with the girl intensified over the summer, with meetings at various locations including a summer camp in August and a shooting camp near Stroud, where Jones was again assisting. The girl initiated contact with Jones via Facebook after these meetings, and their communication persisted throughout the summer holidays.

When the girl returned to school, their contact continued through text messages. Jones made three trips from Kent to Stroud on September 19, October 3, and October 31, to meet her in person. During one of these meetings, they went to a woodland area where Jones touched her sexually. Prosecutor Kesner revealed that Jones expressed a desire to have full sexual intercourse with the girl but told her to wait until she was ready, saying, “in your time, not mine.”

Jones’s arrest followed after teachers at the girl’s school became aware of the relationship and contacted the police. The case was brought before Gloucester Crown Court, where Judge Tabor sentenced Jones, emphasizing that his immediate confession and lack of blame-shifting placed him at the lower end of the sentencing scale. His sentence was further reduced by six months to account for personal mitigation.

During the hearing, Jones’s defense lawyer, Jon Holmes, acknowledged that Jones was fully aware of the seriousness of his actions and accepted that prison was the appropriate consequence under sentencing guidelines. Holmes also highlighted that Jones had shown concern for the victim, more so than for himself. The court was presented with letters of support for Jones, including one from his current girlfriend, who remains supportive despite the allegations.

Overall, this case underscores the dangers of online grooming and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable minors from exploitation, especially in communities like Keston and Stroud where such incidents can have profound and lasting impacts.