PETER HILL JONES REPEATEDLY ABUSES CHILDREN IN YAPTON AND BARNHAM, SENTENCED TO 17 YEARS IN PRISON
| Red Rose Database
Yapton Rapist
In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Yapton and surrounding areas, Peter Hill Jones, a man with a long history of sexual offenses, has been sentenced to 17 years in prison following a series of heinous crimes against young girls. The 63-year-old, who resides on Burndell Hill in Yapton near Bognor, was found guilty of multiple counts of child sexual abuse after a comprehensive trial at Lewes Crown Court.
Jones’s criminal history dates back to 1996 when he was initially convicted for sexually abusing a young girl. Despite serving a three-year sentence, his past crimes resurfaced when new victims came forward, revealing a pattern of abuse that spanned over a decade. The recent convictions include three counts of child rape and nine counts of indecent assault against a girl aged between nine and 13 in Yapton, as well as additional indecent assaults on a girl aged between nine and 12 at an address in Barnham.
The first victim, who had previously come forward in 2013, re-engaged with authorities after learning that Jones had been convicted of possessing child pornography images. She disclosed that the abuse had occurred over a period of five years prior to his initial 1996 conviction, revealing a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior. The second victim, who independently reported her experiences in 2014, described strikingly similar abuse, further corroborating the pattern of Jones’s criminal conduct.
One of the victims, whose identity remains protected by law, spoke publicly this week about her long and painful journey toward justice. She expressed her relief and gratitude toward the police for their efforts, stating, “There were times when I thought I could not cope, but that would have meant he was winning so I kept telling myself – don’t let him win. I never gave up and all was worth it as justice has been done.”
Throughout the trial, both victims, now adults, had to relive their traumatic childhood experiences by giving evidence in court. Despite the emotional toll, their testimonies played a crucial role in securing Jones’s conviction. As a result of his crimes, Jones will be registered as a sex offender for life and has been issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which imposes strict restrictions on his access to children until further notice from the court.
Jones’s conviction was finalized on August 3 after an eight-day trial at Lewes Crown Court. The sentencing marks a significant victory for justice and the victims who endured years of suffering in silence.
In addition to his criminal activities, Jones’s history also includes a controversial episode in May 2011, when he resigned from his position as a Yapton parish councillor amid revelations of his sex offenses. He had been re-elected with 439 votes for a four-year term, serving on the planning committee and overseeing the King George V playing field. His involvement in local governance began in 2003, and he was re-elected in 2007 and again in 2011, unaware of his criminal past.
It was only in the week prior to his resignation that the council became aware of Jones’s convictions. The parish council’s clerk, David Tansley, confirmed that the council had no prior knowledge of Jones’s criminal record, which included a conviction for subjecting a 15-year-old girl to two indecent assaults. The judge in that case described the assaults as “terrifying.”
Jones’s 1996 offenses involved entering a room where a teenage girl was sleeping, under the influence of alcohol and drugs, and indecently assaulting her. He was sentenced in 1997 to three years in prison, later reduced to two on appeal. The court heard that Jones had told the girl that if she made noise, he would rape her and get her pregnant, a statement that added to the distressing nature of his crimes. Despite his criminal record, Jones failed to disclose his convictions on official forms required for his role as a councillor.
Officials from Arun District Council explained that they were unaware of Jones’s past because the electoral process relies on the honesty of candidates’ disclosures. Under electoral rules, a person convicted of certain offenses within five years of an election or serving a prison sentence of at least three months is disqualified from standing as a candidate. However, in Jones’s case, his previous convictions were not disclosed, and no legal action was taken at the time of his election.
Jones’s criminal history dates back to 1996 when he was initially convicted for sexually abusing a young girl. Despite serving a three-year sentence, his past crimes resurfaced when new victims came forward, revealing a pattern of abuse that spanned over a decade. The recent convictions include three counts of child rape and nine counts of indecent assault against a girl aged between nine and 13 in Yapton, as well as additional indecent assaults on a girl aged between nine and 12 at an address in Barnham.
The first victim, who had previously come forward in 2013, re-engaged with authorities after learning that Jones had been convicted of possessing child pornography images. She disclosed that the abuse had occurred over a period of five years prior to his initial 1996 conviction, revealing a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior. The second victim, who independently reported her experiences in 2014, described strikingly similar abuse, further corroborating the pattern of Jones’s criminal conduct.
One of the victims, whose identity remains protected by law, spoke publicly this week about her long and painful journey toward justice. She expressed her relief and gratitude toward the police for their efforts, stating, “There were times when I thought I could not cope, but that would have meant he was winning so I kept telling myself – don’t let him win. I never gave up and all was worth it as justice has been done.”
Throughout the trial, both victims, now adults, had to relive their traumatic childhood experiences by giving evidence in court. Despite the emotional toll, their testimonies played a crucial role in securing Jones’s conviction. As a result of his crimes, Jones will be registered as a sex offender for life and has been issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which imposes strict restrictions on his access to children until further notice from the court.
Jones’s conviction was finalized on August 3 after an eight-day trial at Lewes Crown Court. The sentencing marks a significant victory for justice and the victims who endured years of suffering in silence.
In addition to his criminal activities, Jones’s history also includes a controversial episode in May 2011, when he resigned from his position as a Yapton parish councillor amid revelations of his sex offenses. He had been re-elected with 439 votes for a four-year term, serving on the planning committee and overseeing the King George V playing field. His involvement in local governance began in 2003, and he was re-elected in 2007 and again in 2011, unaware of his criminal past.
It was only in the week prior to his resignation that the council became aware of Jones’s convictions. The parish council’s clerk, David Tansley, confirmed that the council had no prior knowledge of Jones’s criminal record, which included a conviction for subjecting a 15-year-old girl to two indecent assaults. The judge in that case described the assaults as “terrifying.”
Jones’s 1996 offenses involved entering a room where a teenage girl was sleeping, under the influence of alcohol and drugs, and indecently assaulting her. He was sentenced in 1997 to three years in prison, later reduced to two on appeal. The court heard that Jones had told the girl that if she made noise, he would rape her and get her pregnant, a statement that added to the distressing nature of his crimes. Despite his criminal record, Jones failed to disclose his convictions on official forms required for his role as a councillor.
Officials from Arun District Council explained that they were unaware of Jones’s past because the electoral process relies on the honesty of candidates’ disclosures. Under electoral rules, a person convicted of certain offenses within five years of an election or serving a prison sentence of at least three months is disqualified from standing as a candidate. However, in Jones’s case, his previous convictions were not disclosed, and no legal action was taken at the time of his election.