JASON EVANS FROM STONEHOUSE SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE
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Stonehouse Child Sexual Abuser
In a disturbing case that has shocked the Gloucestershire community, Jason Evans, a 34-year-old man from Stonehouse, has been convicted and sentenced for a series of heinous offences involving the grooming and exploitation of minors. The case unfolded over several months, revealing a pattern of predatory behavior facilitated through online platforms and culminating in a police sting operation that led to his arrest at Stonehouse railway station.
On January 31, 2019, Evans appeared before Gloucester Crown Court via videolink from HMP Bristol, where he faced serious charges including grooming a minor, possessing indecent images of children, and breaching a sexual harm prevention order. The court was told that Evans had engaged in a calculated campaign to target vulnerable young girls aged between 12 and 16, using multiple online personas to communicate with them. Prosecutors detailed how Evans encouraged these girls to send him explicit images, offered to pay their train fares, and promised to be gentle with them during potential meetings for sexual activity.
The police had set up an undercover operation after discovering Evans was actively using online profiles to seek out and groom young girls. During the investigation, officers identified three undercover officers posing as teenage girls on the MyLOL teen dating app, with whom Evans had been communicating. His arrest at Stonehouse Railway Station on July 18, 2018, was reportedly in anticipation of meeting one of these supposed minors. Unbeknownst to him, he was speaking with officers, which led to his swift detention.
Following his arrest, authorities conducted a thorough search of Evans' property, uncovering multiple computer devices hidden in concealed spaces above a suspended ceiling. These devices contained a staggering collection of indecent images of children, totaling 2,638, with 70 classified as the most severe Category A images. Police analysis revealed some of the videos were extremely graphic, with the longest being 18 minutes of child abuse footage. The devices also contained files named after the underage girls Evans had been communicating with, indicating a disturbing level of organization and intent.
Further investigation uncovered that Evans had been in contact with real children, inciting and grooming them online. He used various aliases, including 'Jason' and 'Jessica,' to manipulate vulnerable girls, some of whom had mental health issues, behavioral problems, or were care leavers. One particularly alarming case involved a girl with a mental age of nine, whom Evans tried to persuade into a sexual encounter. He also targeted a girl willing to meet him to lose her virginity, encouraging her to contact him and offering to pay for her train fare and alcohol to facilitate the meeting.
Throughout the proceedings, Judge Ian Lawrie QC emphasized the dangerous and persistent nature of Evans' behavior. He noted Evans' history of previous sexual offences against children, which included 15 prior convictions. The court heard that Evans had previously been subject to a community order and a five-year sexual harm prevention order, yet he continued to offend, demonstrating a troubling inability or unwillingness to reform. The judge expressed deep concern over Evans' continued access to imagery and his attempts to meet children despite protective orders.
Defense counsel Sarah Jenkins argued that Evans' childhood experiences contributed to his current behavior, suggesting feelings of inadequacy and social isolation played a role. However, the judge was clear that Evans' repeated offences and the severity of his actions warranted a lengthy custodial sentence. An extended sentence was deemed appropriate due to the gravity and persistence of his offending, with Evans remanded in custody until a sentencing date to be fixed.
In a related development in December 2018, Evans had already admitted to 11 sex offences and requested that 13 others be considered. These included attempts to incite minors into sexual acts, possession of indecent images, and breaches of previous court orders. The court was told that Evans used multiple online personas to communicate with girls, encouraging them to send explicit images and make arrangements to meet for sex. His arrest at Stonehouse Railway Station was linked to these grooming activities, which involved communication with undercover police officers posing as teenagers.
Overall, the case highlights the ongoing threat posed by individuals like Jason Evans, whose manipulative tactics and refusal to cease offending underscore the importance of vigilant law enforcement and protective measures for vulnerable children. The court's decision reflects the seriousness of his crimes and the need to protect society from further harm.
On January 31, 2019, Evans appeared before Gloucester Crown Court via videolink from HMP Bristol, where he faced serious charges including grooming a minor, possessing indecent images of children, and breaching a sexual harm prevention order. The court was told that Evans had engaged in a calculated campaign to target vulnerable young girls aged between 12 and 16, using multiple online personas to communicate with them. Prosecutors detailed how Evans encouraged these girls to send him explicit images, offered to pay their train fares, and promised to be gentle with them during potential meetings for sexual activity.
The police had set up an undercover operation after discovering Evans was actively using online profiles to seek out and groom young girls. During the investigation, officers identified three undercover officers posing as teenage girls on the MyLOL teen dating app, with whom Evans had been communicating. His arrest at Stonehouse Railway Station on July 18, 2018, was reportedly in anticipation of meeting one of these supposed minors. Unbeknownst to him, he was speaking with officers, which led to his swift detention.
Following his arrest, authorities conducted a thorough search of Evans' property, uncovering multiple computer devices hidden in concealed spaces above a suspended ceiling. These devices contained a staggering collection of indecent images of children, totaling 2,638, with 70 classified as the most severe Category A images. Police analysis revealed some of the videos were extremely graphic, with the longest being 18 minutes of child abuse footage. The devices also contained files named after the underage girls Evans had been communicating with, indicating a disturbing level of organization and intent.
Further investigation uncovered that Evans had been in contact with real children, inciting and grooming them online. He used various aliases, including 'Jason' and 'Jessica,' to manipulate vulnerable girls, some of whom had mental health issues, behavioral problems, or were care leavers. One particularly alarming case involved a girl with a mental age of nine, whom Evans tried to persuade into a sexual encounter. He also targeted a girl willing to meet him to lose her virginity, encouraging her to contact him and offering to pay for her train fare and alcohol to facilitate the meeting.
Throughout the proceedings, Judge Ian Lawrie QC emphasized the dangerous and persistent nature of Evans' behavior. He noted Evans' history of previous sexual offences against children, which included 15 prior convictions. The court heard that Evans had previously been subject to a community order and a five-year sexual harm prevention order, yet he continued to offend, demonstrating a troubling inability or unwillingness to reform. The judge expressed deep concern over Evans' continued access to imagery and his attempts to meet children despite protective orders.
Defense counsel Sarah Jenkins argued that Evans' childhood experiences contributed to his current behavior, suggesting feelings of inadequacy and social isolation played a role. However, the judge was clear that Evans' repeated offences and the severity of his actions warranted a lengthy custodial sentence. An extended sentence was deemed appropriate due to the gravity and persistence of his offending, with Evans remanded in custody until a sentencing date to be fixed.
In a related development in December 2018, Evans had already admitted to 11 sex offences and requested that 13 others be considered. These included attempts to incite minors into sexual acts, possession of indecent images, and breaches of previous court orders. The court was told that Evans used multiple online personas to communicate with girls, encouraging them to send explicit images and make arrangements to meet for sex. His arrest at Stonehouse Railway Station was linked to these grooming activities, which involved communication with undercover police officers posing as teenagers.
Overall, the case highlights the ongoing threat posed by individuals like Jason Evans, whose manipulative tactics and refusal to cease offending underscore the importance of vigilant law enforcement and protective measures for vulnerable children. The court's decision reflects the seriousness of his crimes and the need to protect society from further harm.