PAUL JONES FROM PORTSMOUTH AND WIRRAL SENTENCED FOR SEX OFFENCES INVOLVING CHILDREN IN PORTSMOUTH AND WIRRAL

In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Portsmouth and Wirral, Paul Jones, aged 51, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for a series of heinous sexual offences involving young boys. The case highlights a pattern of predatory behavior that spanned decades, beginning with a horrific assault in 1986 and continuing into recent years.

Jones, originally from Wirral, committed his first known offence at the age of 19 when he raped a five-year-old boy. This assault took place in 1986, and he was subsequently sentenced to five years' youth custody at Carlisle Crown Court in December of that year. Despite serving his sentence, Jones kept his conviction secret when he was released from prison, which allowed him to re-enter society without the stigma of his past crimes.

After his release, Jones moved to Tranmere, a suburb of Wirral, where he resumed his grooming and abuse of young boys. He targeted a 10-year-old boy and his 14-year-old friend, grooming them in a calculated manner. The Liverpool Crown Court heard that the first boy's parents were aware that Jones had been incarcerated but were unaware of the nature of his previous conviction. Prosecutor David Watson detailed how Jones manipulated the young boy by offering him pornography, money, and alcohol, thereby establishing a disturbing pattern of grooming.

Jones engaged in sexual acts with the first boy, some of which occurred at his home in Prenton. As the boy grew older, around 15 or 16, he confided in friends about the abuse, and it was only then that he disclosed the full extent of Jones's misconduct. The victim described feeling like