NEIL JONES FROM APPLETON SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN WORCESTERSHIRE AND MANCHESTER

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Appleton and the surrounding areas, Neil Jones, a man originally from Appleton, has been involved in a disturbing criminal case involving the sexual abuse of a young girl. The incident, which took place over a period of more than a year, has left a lasting impact on the victim and her family, sparking outrage and concern among residents and advocacy groups alike.

Neil Jones, who resided on Dale Lane in Warrington at the time of his arrest, was convicted of multiple counts related to the abuse. The offences occurred starting in September 2008 at a residence in Manchester, where Jones engaged in inappropriate and sexual acts with the four-year-old girl. The abuse was carried out under the false pretense of playing 'games,' a tactic often used by offenders to manipulate and exploit vulnerable children.

Jones, aged 47 at the time of his conviction, would touch the young girl sexually and also coerced her into performing similar acts on him. The case came to light in November 2009 when Jones was caught, and he initially denied the allegations, attempting to shift blame onto the victim, who was then only eight years old. Despite his denial, Jones was found guilty by a majority verdict at Bolton Crown Court in April of the following year. The court convicted him on four counts of sexual assault involving a child under 13 and two counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

Following his conviction, Jones appealed the verdict at the Criminal Appeal Court in London in January. His appeal was unsuccessful in overturning the conviction; however, the court did decide to reduce his prison sentence from six years to four years. Additionally, the judges removed a condition that required him to be on licence for eight years after his release, effectively shortening his period of supervision.

Since his release, Neil Jones has been living near Tenbury Wells in Worcestershire, a move that has raised concerns among local residents and advocacy groups about the safety and well-being of the community. The reduction in his sentence has further intensified the emotional distress experienced by the victim's family. Mrs. Smith, a pseudonym used to protect the identity of the young girl, expressed her anguish, stating, “Hopefully I will get her over this but she said to me ‘he got six years, so he should have to do six years for what he did to me’.”

Mrs. Smith also shared the ongoing struggles faced by her daughter, who continues to suffer from nightmares, a loss of confidence, and difficulties in social interactions. She remarked, “She is still in pieces now and tells me things that happened. It really knocked her confidence. She didn’t want to play with other children, her grades went down in school and she still has nightmares now.”

Reflecting on the broader impact, Mrs. Smith added, “The knock-on effects of what he has done are never-ending. I don’t know how other parents can cope with this. Whatever he got, it will never undo the damage he has done.”

Neil Jones’s case remains a stark reminder of the devastating effects of child sexual abuse and the importance of justice and community vigilance in protecting vulnerable children.