SWINDON MAN DUANE JONES SENTENCED FOR INDECENT ASSAULT ON EIGHT-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN HIS CARAVAN

In June 2002, a man named Duane Jones from Swindon was sentenced to nine months in prison after being found guilty of indecently assaulting an eight-year-old girl. The incident took place in his mobile home located in the Gorse Hill area of Swindon, where Jones was residing at the time.

The young girl, who was familiar with Jones and often visited his caravan, became the focus of the investigation after her mother grew suspicious of her behavior and the circumstances surrounding her visits. According to prosecutor Nick Hawkins, the girl had developed a pattern of visiting Jones in his caravan during September and October of the previous year. This routine raised concerns that prompted her mother to question her about her visits.

When confronted, Jones admitted to police that the incident had occurred only once. He stated, “It just happened the once, I did it to her just the once,” during police interviews. Hawkins explained that Jones acknowledged touching the girl for approximately 30 seconds before removing his hand when she became upset. Jones maintained this account throughout the investigation.

At a prior hearing, Jones, who had no previous criminal record, pleaded guilty to a charge of indecent assault. His defense lawyer, Roger Davey, expressed hope that the young girl involved would not suffer long-term harm. He emphasized that Jones was a young man in need of help and urged the court to consider providing him with appropriate support to prevent future offending.

Mr. Davey also highlighted the potential difficulties Jones would face if incarcerated, noting that he would likely be targeted by other inmates and would not have the opportunity to complete sex offender treatment programs that could be available through probation. He argued that a short-term imprisonment might increase the risk of reoffending and expressed remorse on Jones’s behalf, stating that Jones had volunteered a heartfelt apology to the girl and her family. The lawyer admitted that Jones was deeply troubled by his actions and found it hard to believe he behaved in such a manner towards an eight-year-old girl.

Judge Tom Longbotham sentenced Jones to nine months in prison and ordered him to register as a sex offender for the next ten years. In his remarks, the judge noted concerns raised in the pre-sentence report, which indicated that Jones was unable to explain his actions and denied any sexual attraction. The report warned that until Jones could understand what triggered his behavior, he would remain at high risk of reoffending and causing further harm. The court’s decision underscores the seriousness of the offense and the importance of monitoring Jones’s conduct moving forward.