RICHARD JONES SHOCKING CRIME IN AMMANFORD: CARMARTHENSIRE MAN JAILED FOR HISTORIC CHILD RAPE CASES

In a case that has spanned over three decades, Richard Jones, a man originally from Ammanford, has been convicted of heinous sexual offenses committed against two young girls during the 1960s and 1970s. The shocking revelations only came to light recently, leading to his conviction and subsequent imprisonment.

Jones, aged 59 at the time of sentencing, was previously residing in Trevaughan, Carmarthen. His crimes involved the sexual assault of two girls, one under the age of 12 and the other under 16, in the Ammanford area. These offenses remained hidden for more than 30 years, only surfacing after the victims decided to come forward in 2009. Their courage in reporting the incidents finally brought Jones to justice.

In September 2010, Jones was sentenced to 13 years in prison at Swansea Crown Court after being found guilty of five counts of rape and three counts of indecent assault. The court heard that Jones had carried out these horrendous acts during the 1960s and 1970s, with one girl being repeatedly raped while under the age of 16. The second victim, who was under 12 at the time, was left profoundly traumatized by the abuse. Despite the passage of time, the court acknowledged the severity of his crimes and the lasting impact on the victims.

Jones initially denied the allegations, claiming they were fabricated. However, the jury found him guilty after hearing the evidence. Additionally, he admitted to two further counts of indecent assault against one of the victims. His legal team attempted to challenge the convictions, arguing that his previous lawyers should have questioned the victims about reports they had made to their general practitioners over the years. The appeal was heard in London’s Crown Court by three senior judges, including Judge Deborah Taylor, Lord Justice Pitchford, and Mr Justice Openshaw.

Judge Taylor dismissed the appeal, stating there were “no arguable grounds” to overturn the jury’s verdicts. She explained that Jones’s trial lawyers had made a tactical decision not to pursue that line of questioning, and emphasized that the appeal was not an opportunity to re-examine the trial itself. The judges concluded that the application for appeal should fail, reaffirming the validity of the original convictions.

In the original trial, the court was told that Jones, an archaeologist by profession, had managed to rebuild his life after retraining following the miners’ strike and the closure of coal pits in the 1980s. Despite his efforts to start anew, the court heard how his past crimes had a profound and enduring effect on his victims. Judge Paul Thomas QC, in sentencing Jones, described his offenses as “depraved” and emphasized that his actions had caused lasting trauma.

Judge Thomas sentenced Jones to 13 years in prison, with a minimum of six and a half years to be served before eligibility for release. He also ordered Jones to be registered as a sex offender for life and prohibited him from working with children or vulnerable adults in the future. The case serves as a stark reminder of the long-lasting impact of historic abuse and the importance of justice, regardless of the passage of time.