LLANDOVERY MAN JACK JONES SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES INVOLVING UNDERAGE GIRLS ON INSTAGRAM

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Llandovery, Jack Jones, aged 23, has been sentenced to a total of 12 years in prison after being found guilty of multiple serious child sex offences. The offences involved the online targeting and exploitation of underage girls through social media platform Instagram, where Jones engaged in predatory behavior from April 2019 through August 2022.

Jones’s criminal activities came to light after several victims and their concerned parents reported his inappropriate and sexually explicit communications. Prosecutor Nicola Powell detailed to the court that Jones had contacted children as young as nine and up to 14 years old, sending them explicit messages and videos, and encouraging them to perform sexual acts. One of the most distressing cases involved an 11-year-old girl whose mother contacted the police after Jones sent her sexually explicit messages that explicitly encouraged her to perform sexual acts on herself. Jones falsely claimed to be 14 years old at the time, although he was 19, and he sent the girl videos of himself masturbating. He also persuaded her to send him pictures of herself, further exploiting her innocence.

Another victim, a nine-year-old girl, was contacted by Jones on March 24, 2020. Her mother reported to the police that her daughter had been receiving inappropriate messages from Jones, who falsely claimed to be 15. He sent her a picture of his genitals and asked her to send similar images. When the girl refused, citing her age, Jones dismissed her concerns, claiming that age was just a number and urging her to keep their interactions secret. Following this incident, police raided Jones’s residence, seizing multiple devices that contained evidence of his crimes.

Further investigations revealed that Jones had also been messaging a 14-year-old girl, encouraging her to perform sexual acts and requesting explicit photographs, despite her informing him she was only 14. He continued to ask her for such images, showing a pattern of predatory behavior. Additionally, he engaged with another girl, claiming to be 15, and asked her to perform sexual acts on herself. While on bail for these offences, Jones did not cease his activities; he messaged a nine-year-old girl again, requesting explicit pictures and sending images of himself. He also attempted to persuade a 13-year-old girl to perform sexual acts, demonstrating a continued pattern of exploitation.

Police examined Jones’s electronic devices and uncovered five indecent images and videos. Among these was a video of a girl between 13 and 15 years old performing a sexual act on herself, and another girl aged 11 to 13 being made to pose explicitly. These images and videos underscore the severity of his offending. When questioned by police on April 17, 2022, Jones claimed he had been online seeking a girlfriend his own age and had been messaging girls he believed to be within that age range. He later admitted to the offences and told the authors of a pre-sentence report that he had no interest in relationships with adults.

During the court hearing at Swansea Crown Court, a statement was read from the mother of one of Jones’s nine-year-old victims. She expressed her profound distress, stating, “This is a disgusting offence that has left a lasting effect on her. Her innocence has been violated.” She also voiced ongoing concerns about her daughter’s safety online, emphasizing her worry about the potential for further harm.

Jones, who was held in custody at HMP Parc Prison prior to sentencing, had no previous convictions. The court ordered that he must register as a sex offender indefinitely and imposed a lifelong sexual harm prevention order to restrict his future activities. Judge Walters sentenced Jones to a total of 12 years in prison, with the following breakdown of sentences: six years for causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, one year for causing a child to watch a sexual act (to run concurrently), four years for similar offences (also concurrent), six months for engaging in sexual communication with a child (concurrent), and additional sentences for attempting to engage children in sexual acts and making indecent images, some of which are to be served consecutively.

In a related case in April 2023, Jones, now aged 22, admitted to multiple child sex offences at Swansea Crown Court. These included inciting a nine-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity by requesting indecent images, engaging in sexual communication with a girl under 16, and creating indecent images of children. He also admitted to other offences involving children aged 11 and 13, including making indecent images and attempting to engage children in sexual acts. A psychiatric report was ordered due to concerns over his mental state, and his sentencing was scheduled for April 24, 2023, with Judge Catherine Richards indicating that Jones faces a lengthy prison term. The court emphasized the importance of the report in guiding the sentencing process, given the gravity of his crimes and the potential impact on his mental health.