SHOTTON MAN JAILED FOR 17 YEARS FOR CAMPAIGN OF SEXUAL OFFENCES
The perverted past of a man — branded a sexual predator — caught up with him when he was jailed for 17 years for a campaign of sexual offences.Merfyn Jones, 52, of Rowden Street in Shotton, was placed on the sex offender’s register for life.
Jones had denied 13 offences of rape, attempted rape and indecent assault against four complainants, when they were children, dating back to the 1990s.
But he was unanimously convicted by a jury at Mold Crown Court in December.
Judge Rhys Rowlands stated that Jones continued to deny the offences and had shown no remorse at all.
“You took advantage of four young girls and you did so repeatedly,” he said.
“Totally understandably, your behaviour had an appalling and profound effect,” the judge added.
It was highlighted that two of the victims had been raped.
Despite the significant delay, Jones had managed to live a normal life for many years while the victims had to carry the trauma of what he had done.
The judge emphasized that although his offending ended in the 1990s, Jones had not been in trouble since, but he had to answer for his depraved behaviour as a younger man.
Judge Rhys Rowlands commented, “You have no comprehension of the way in which you were meant to behave as a grown man towards young children, or the harm you have caused the victims.” Prosecutor John Philpotts presented victim impact statements, revealing that victims did not report the crimes initially, fearing they wouldn’t be believed, and suffered from nightmares, difficulty sleeping, anger, emotional distress, low self-esteem, and panic attacks.
The sentencing was for 17 years, and Jones was to be on the sex offender’s register for life.
The judge sentenced Jones as a sexual predator, reflecting the serious nature of the offences.
The case was described as a sustained campaign of sexual offences with severe psychological harm caused to the victims, now women in their 20s and 30s, who had their childhoods stolen.
The judge concluded that Jones thought he had gotten away with his crimes but now had to answer for his actions.
