DAVID JONES FROM STANLEY SENTENCED FOR SEX OFFENCES AGAINST 7-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN DURHAM

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Stanley, a man named David Jones has been sentenced to three years in prison after being found guilty of sexually abusing a young girl over a period of five months. The heinous activities only came to light when the seven-year-old victim confided in a friend at her school, revealing the distressing details of what had happened to her.

Following her disclosure, the information was reported to a school employee, which prompted immediate action from authorities. The police were contacted, and the girl’s family was informed of the situation in April of the same year. Durham Crown Court heard that the young girl was subjected to a detailed police interview, during which she described the inappropriate acts committed by David Jones, who was 51 years old at the time.

Prosecutor Don MacFaul recounted that the girl expressed her feelings about the abuse, stating, “It made her feel, really, really, really unhappy.” This emotional testimony played a crucial role in the case. Jones was subsequently arrested, and during police questioning, he denied any sexual contact with the girl. However, forensic evidence proved otherwise, as traces of his saliva were found on her underwear, linking him directly to the crime scene.

When confronted with this evidence, Jones chose to remain silent, making no comment. He had previously admitted to six counts of sexual assault during an earlier hearing. His defense lawyer, Paul Currer, described Jones as “a man of limited intellectual ability,” highlighting his isolated lifestyle and mental health struggles. Currer explained that Jones had suffered from depression and anxiety, which had rendered him unable to continue working as a laborer. Instead, he had been working part-time at a chip shop and primarily cared for his mother.

Jones’s lawyer also noted that his client had no prior history of sexual urges or relationships and that he found it difficult to cope with the loss of his mother. The court was told that Jones enjoyed watching football and had no previous record of similar offenses. Despite these mitigating factors, the judge, Brian Forster, emphasized the seriousness of the crimes committed.

Judge Forster sentenced David Jones to three years in prison and made it clear that such offending could never be tolerated. He also imposed a lifelong ban on Jones working with children and ordered him to adhere to the restrictions of the Sex Offenders’ Register for the rest of his life, underscoring the gravity of the case and the community’s need for protection.