ETHAN JONES FROM MANCHESTER TO MIDDLESBROUGH: SHOCKING GROOMING CASE INVOLVING TEES-SIDE AND UNDERAGE GIRL

In September 2014, a disturbing case of online grooming and sexual predation unfolded involving Ethan Jones, a 23-year-old man who relocated from Manchester to Middlesbrough in an apparent attempt to get closer to a vulnerable 13-year-old girl he had been grooming over the internet.

Jones was ultimately sentenced to three years in prison after being found guilty of pursuing a young girl for sexual purposes. The court heard that he engaged in a series of explicit exchanges, including messages and images, with the girl, despite being warned multiple times to cease contact. Judge Howard Crowson, presiding over the case at Teesside Crown Court, explicitly stated that Jones had deliberately attempted to groom the young girl for sexual gratification.

During the proceedings, the judge emphasized that Jones’s actions were clearly motivated by sexual intent. He pointed out that the girl was initially flattered by Jones’s attention and was led to believe there was some genuine affection involved. However, Judge Crowson made it clear that there was no such affection on Jones’s part, only a calculated effort to exploit her vulnerability for his own sexual gratification.

The court detailed how Jones’s interest in the girl persisted despite warnings from her family and concerned adults. The evidence revealed that their communication involved highly suggestive text messages, explicit images, and videos exchanged via social media platforms. Jones even boasted online about moving into a large house in Middlesbrough, claiming he was lonely, which was a clear attempt to establish proximity to the girl.

Family members of the girl became increasingly worried after discovering the nature of the messages. They conducted inquiries and contacted Jones, who was informed that the girl was only 13 years old and was told to stop all contact. Despite these warnings, Jones continued to communicate with her, claiming that he was engaged and that the girl had consented to their interactions. At one point, he even issued threats, stating he would come down to the area and physically harm her.

Following his arrest, Jones admitted to having sex with the girl, whom he believed to be 16, and made disparaging remarks about her, claiming she was never forced and that she 'got what was coming to her.' He also claimed to have met her in person and that she had stayed at his home, though he denied having sex with her. The police noted that the exact details of what transpired during that evening could not be confirmed.

The girl’s mother later issued a statement expressing the profound impact the incident had on her family, highlighting the emotional and psychological toll of the grooming and abuse.

Jones, of Norcliffe Street, North Ormesby, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to meeting a child following sexual grooming. It was revealed that he had a troubling criminal history, including 12 previous offenses, one of which involved sexually assaulting a boy under 13 when he was a teenager.

During the sentencing hearing, defense lawyer Peter Makepeace described Jones as being in a “semi-nomadic, detached, isolated state of mind,” suggesting that his background was unusual and contributed to his behavior. He argued that Jones’s actions were characterized by immature bravado, with only two images and some explicit messages exchanged, which he described as “grossly unpleasant.”

Judge Crowson acknowledged that some degree of naivety and immaturity might have played a role but emphasized that Jones’s actions were deliberate and calculated, aimed at gaining access to a young girl significantly younger than himself. The judge stated that Jones’s success in establishing contact was a serious concern.

As a result, Jones was sentenced to three years in prison, marking his first custodial sentence. Additionally, he was subjected to an indefinite sexual offences prevention order, which prohibits him from having unsupervised contact with girls under 16 and restricts his use of the internet and internet-enabled devices. He will also remain on the sex offenders’ register for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to protect potential victims.