JASON FRANCE OF BLACKWOOD SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE IN VALLEYS

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Blackwood and the surrounding Valleys, Jason France, aged 39 and with no fixed address, has been sentenced to five and a half years in prison for a series of heinous sexual offenses committed against young girls during the 1990s.

France's criminal activities involved targeting vulnerable girls within the local area, gaining their trust by ingratiating himself into their families and even babysitting for some of them. His modus operandi was calculated and manipulative; he would sexually abuse the children in their own homes, often when other family members were present, and in some cases, he was interrupted during these acts in the living rooms of the victims' houses.

Prosecutor Caroline Rees outlined to Newport Crown Court that France’s approach was to establish a relationship of trust with the families, which allowed him to carry out his abuse with relative impunity. She explained that after the assaults, France would threaten the victims to ensure their silence or bribe them with money and sweets, effectively silencing their cries for help.

Although allegations against France had been made prior to his arrest, they did not lead to immediate action. It was only in 2009, following another complaint, that authorities decided to interview the victims, which eventually led to his arrest and prosecution. The court was informed that France had previously served a 15-month sentence for two counts of indecent assault involving two other girls.

During his arrest, France initially denied all charges, claiming that the girls had fabricated stories, allegedly influenced by their mothers. He also claimed to suffer from blackouts during the periods when the abuse was said to have occurred, a defense that was ultimately unsuccessful.

On the day scheduled for his trial, France requested a new indictment and subsequently pleaded guilty to all charges. His defense lawyer, Jeff Jones, presented a pre-sentence report indicating that France was considered at low risk of reoffending and that his offenses did not involve manipulation through alcohol or drugs.

France faced multiple charges for each victim, with sentences varying from nine months to two years, to be served concurrently for each individual case. The court ordered that these sentences be served consecutively, resulting in the total five and a-half-year term.

This case highlights the disturbing tactics used by offenders like France to exploit trust and silence victims, and it underscores the importance of vigilance and swift justice in protecting vulnerable children in communities like Blackwood and the wider Valleys.