JAMES JONES GROOMS YOUNG GIRLS IN RUTHIN AFTER SEX OFFENDER PROGRAMME FAILURE

In July 2009, a disturbing case emerged involving James Marvin Jones, a man from Ruthin who had previously been involved in a sex offender rehabilitation program. Despite completing a course aimed at addressing his indecent assault convictions, Jones's predatory behavior persisted, leading to further allegations of grooming and sexual misconduct involving young girls.

Jones, aged 38 at the time, was found to have indecently assaulted two young girls over a span of five years, with the abuse beginning when the victims were still pre-teenagers. The severity and duration of his offending prompted the court to classify him as a high risk to young females, raising serious concerns about his potential for re-offending.

During proceedings at Mold Crown Court, Judge Merfyn Hughes QC detailed the extent of Jones's criminal history. He was sentenced to a total of seven years in prison—comprising four years behind bars and an additional three years under strict license supervision. This extended sentence was the result of Jones admitting to a total of 11 separate offences, including sexual assault, indecent assault, and involving a child in sexual activity. The judge explicitly ordered that Jones must never work with children again, emphasizing the danger he posed.

Historical offences included an incident in 2000, when Jones followed and indecently assaulted a young mother in her own home while her two-year-old child slept on a nearby sofa. At that time, he was serving a 30-month sentence on a sex offender’s group program. Further offences occurred in 2003, when Jones indecently touched a young girl during a walk, with additional incidents of inappropriate touching happening on multiple occasions over the following years.

In 2006, Jones's offending escalated when he met a second girl and exposed himself to her. He also engaged in numerous indecent touches on her over a period of time. The girl eventually confided in a relative about what had happened, revealing the ongoing nature of Jones’s predatory behavior.

Victims' statements painted a grim picture of the emotional toll inflicted by Jones. One girl described her attempt to harm herself with tablets, while both victims experienced weight loss, sleep disturbances, diminished confidence, and difficulty trusting others. These accounts underscored the profound and lasting impact of Jones’s actions.

Defense lawyer Simon Mintz acknowledged Jones’s admission of guilt but pointed out that none of the offences involved sexual penetration. Nonetheless, he highlighted a report that classified Jones as a “medium to high risk” of re-offending, particularly emphasizing the high risk he posed to young females.

Judge Hughes remarked that Jones was just completing a 30-month license period for a previous sexual assault when he committed the first offence after that. The judge condemned Jones’s pattern of behavior, stating, “For about five years up to 2007, you committed acts of sexual assault against two young girls. The aggravating features of these offences are the abuse of trust and the young age of both victims.”

He further explained, “You obviously groomed and targeted them so there is a degree of pre-planning. These are not isolated incidents; they happened many, many times over a period of about five years. The consequences of that will undoubtedly be with them for many years to come.”

Judge Hughes also criticized Jones’s lack of remorse, noting that his pre-sentence report showed little empathy for his victims. Given his sexual interests in young girls and his prior convictions for indecent exposure and assault, the court concluded that Jones was either unwilling or unable to address his offending behavior, posing an ongoing threat to the community.