PETER JONES FROM WADSLEY FACES JAIL AFTER ADMITTING TO MULTIPLE CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN SHEFFIELD

In a significant development at Sheffield Crown Court, Peter Jones, a 41-year-old man from Wadsley, has acknowledged his involvement in the sexual abuse of several young children, including a one-year-old boy. The court proceedings, held in October 2019, revealed that Jones pleaded guilty to a total of nine separate sex-related charges, which encompass sexual assault, indecent assault, and engaging in sexual activities with a minor.

These offences, which Jones admitted to, span a period from January 1994 to December 2018. The victims, all young boys whose identities are protected by legal restrictions, ranged in age from just one year old at the start of the abuse to older children. The youngest victim was only one year old when the abuse began, highlighting the disturbing nature of the crimes.

During the hearing, Jones also entered not guilty pleas to additional charges of indecency with a child and sexual assault, which were alleged by three of the boys involved. The prosecution, led by Ian Goldsack, confirmed that Jones’ guilty pleas to the admitted offences were acceptable to the Crown. As a result, the prosecution stated they would not pursue a trial for the charges Jones denied.

Jones’ legal representative, Peter Hampton, requested that his client be granted bail until the sentencing scheduled for November 5. Hampton argued that allowing Jones to be released temporarily would enable him to 'put his affairs in order.' He emphasized that Jones had pleaded guilty to very serious offences and was aware of the likely sentence he faced.

Addressing the court, Judge Jeremy Richardson QC, the Recorder of Sheffield, agreed to grant conditional bail, permitting Jones to remain free until the sentencing hearing. The judge made it clear that a custodial sentence was inevitable, stating, “It’s inevitable that a sentence of imprisonment is going to be passed in this case.” The judge also indicated that the court would need to consider whether the 'dangerous offender' provisions should be applied, which could lead to an extended sentence if Jones is deemed to pose a significant risk of serious harm to the public.

To assist in this assessment, Judge Richardson ordered a report to evaluate Jones’ dangerousness and also granted a request for a pre-sentence report. The court’s decision underscores the gravity of the crimes committed and the serious consequences that await Jones as the legal process moves forward.