EVAN JONES FROM LLANWRDA JAILED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE IN CARMARTHENSHIRE AND SWANSEA

In October 2016, a 71-year-old man named Evan Heddwyn Jones, hailing from Llanwrda in Carmarthenshire, was sentenced to a three-year prison term after being convicted of multiple counts of historical sexual abuse. The charges stemmed from incidents that occurred between 1976 and 1978, involving a young girl who was then between 14 and 16 years old.

Jones was found guilty of four separate counts of indecent assault on the victim, who has chosen to remain anonymous until now. The court proceedings revealed that Jones was employed in a role that involved transporting school children, specifically tasked with picking them up and dropping them off at their nearest bus stops. It was during these routine duties that he exploited his position of trust, particularly targeting the girl who was the last to be dropped off at her home.

Judge Keith Thomas presided over the case and remarked that Jones had taken advantage of the situation, exploiting the vulnerability of the young girl. The court heard that Jones’s actions were deliberate and predatory, casting a dark shadow over his employment duties and the safety of the children he was supposed to be caring for.

The victim, Esther Hoad, who now resides in Ireland, courageously chose to waive her right to anonymity to speak openly about her traumatic experiences. In an interview with BBC Wales, she described the profound impact the abuse had on her as a child. She recounted feeling wretched, confused, and overwhelmed by guilt, believing she had somehow attracted the unwanted attention of Jones.

Hoad explained that every time she was in the school taxi, she felt a sense of dread whenever Jones touched her or spoke to her inappropriately. Her feelings at the time were marked by guilt, self-loathing, confusion, and a sense of powerlessness, as she believed she was to blame for what was happening.

As an adult, Hoad has come to understand that her feelings of guilt were misplaced. However, as a child, she felt responsible for the abuse she endured. She only decided to report the incidents to the police in 2014 after confiding in her therapist. The process of gathering statements from people she knew from her childhood, including friends, schoolmates, and family members, revealed a disturbing truth: many people were aware of Jones’s misconduct but failed to take action.

Hoad expressed her hope that by publicly sharing her story and waiving her anonymity, she would encourage other victims of sexual abuse to come forward and seek justice. Her bravery has been recognized as a significant step in addressing the long-standing issues of abuse and silence surrounding such crimes.

Detective Constable Lee Davies commented on the case, emphasizing the importance of the conviction. He stated, “The sentencing of Jones is a significant result for Dyfed-Powys Police and also the victim of these abhorrent crimes. It has taken great courage for her to come forward and to stand before a judge and jury to provide her evidence. I applaud her for finding the confidence to come forward.”