PETER JONES CONVICTED OF HISTORIC SEXUAL OFFENCES IN LLANDUDNO AND LONDON

In a case that spanned over a decade, Peter Keith Jones, a man previously residing in Woodgreen, London, has been convicted of serious sexual offences committed during his teenage years in the Llandudno area. The conviction was handed down in absentia, with Jones being sentenced to four and a half years in prison. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life, a requirement that will take effect once he is apprehended.

Jones, aged 63 at the time of sentencing, faced charges that included two counts of rape and one count of indecent assault. These offences occurred approximately 47 to 49 years ago, when he was around 15 years old. The crimes were reported to the police in 2004, but it was only after extensive investigations that authorities managed to locate and arrest him. The police finally apprehended Jones in London in 2016, after a lengthy search that involved issuing a warrant for his arrest at the start of his trial in May of that year.

During the proceedings at Mold Crown Court, Judge Niclas Parry emphasized that despite the passage of many years, the gravity of the offences could not be overlooked. The judge noted that Jones had been at large for a significant period, with the court having to adjourn the sentencing on two separate occasions to facilitate the execution of the arrest warrant. The victim, whose identity remains protected, had expressed a desire for the case to be concluded, which influenced the court’s decision to proceed with sentencing.

The court heard that the offences involved the rape of a girl under the age of 13. The judge described Jones as a bully at the time, who targeted the victim deliberately. It was revealed that Jones made inappropriate sexual comments about her and committed two separate incidents—one of which was rape, and another that took place in front of a male friend. After the assault, Jones reportedly asked the friend if he “wanted a go,” an act that added to the victim’s humiliation. The presence of the male friend during the assault was considered an aggravating factor, further exacerbating the victim’s suffering.

Judge Parry acknowledged that Jones’s youth and immaturity at the time of the offences should be taken into account. He stated that if Jones had been prosecuted during his teenage years, the response might have been different, potentially involving help rather than punishment. However, the court was bound to apply current sentencing guidelines, which recognize the seriousness of such offences and the harm caused to the victim. The judge emphasized that a custodial sentence was inevitable, given the nature of the crimes.

Furthermore, the judge pointed out that Jones did not receive any credit for a plea, as he had forced the victim to relive her trauma during the trial process. The court’s decision reflects the gravity of the offences and the need for justice, regardless of the time elapsed since the crimes were committed.