GWYN JONES FROM WOODSTOCK CAUGHT WITH OVER 16,800 CHILD ABUSE IMAGES AT BLENHEIM PALACE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Woodstock and the surrounding areas, Gwyn Jones, a 51-year-old man employed at the prestigious Blenheim Palace, was found to have an extensive collection of illegal images depicting child abuse. The revelation came to light after Jones was convicted in court for possessing and viewing a staggering number of indecent images.

Jones had previously obtained a reference from his employers at Blenheim Palace, a renowned historic site near Woodstock, after admitting to searching the internet for illicit material. Despite this confession and the reference provided, he failed to disclose his criminal conviction to his employer, a serious oversight that raised questions about transparency and trust.

On the day of his sentencing, Judge Ian Pringle QC was presented with the reference letter from Jones’s employer. The judge expressed skepticism about Jones’s ability to retain his position at the palace, stating that it was ‘unlikely’ he would keep his job given the circumstances. Ultimately, Jones was sentenced to 10 months in prison, but the sentence was suspended for two years, allowing him to avoid immediate incarceration under certain conditions.

The criminal investigation into Jones’s activities began on May 9, 2014, when police officers raided his home in Glyme Close, Woodstock. During the raid, they seized a Toshiba laptop that contained four indecent images. The investigation continued, and in July 2016, officers returned to his residence, this time seizing a Hewlett-Packard laptop that held further disturbing evidence: at least 142 videos and 396 extreme pornographic images, some featuring animals, which are classified as illegal and highly disturbing.

Jones’s defense lawyer, Sonal Dashani, argued that her client, who had no prior convictions and suffers from depression, did not derive sexual pleasure from viewing the illegal material. She described him as a ‘broken’ man who found solace in his hobby of diorama modeling while working at the historic Woodstock palace. Despite her efforts, the court found him guilty of multiple charges.

As part of his sentence, Jones was subjected to a sexual harm prevention order that prohibited him from having unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 16. Additionally, he was placed under a two-year supervision order, required to participate in a 15-day activity program, and complete 120 hours of unpaid community service. Jones admitted to four counts of making indecent photographs of children and two counts of possessing extreme pornographic images, with the offenses spanning from May 2014 to July 2016, highlighting a prolonged period of illegal activity.