STEPHEN JONES CONVICTION IN NOTTINGHAM OVER CHILD'S SEXUAL ASSAULT UPHELD ON APPEAL

In May 2009, an appeal by Stephen Jones, of Long Eaton, regarding his conviction for a sex attack on a toddler during New Year’s Eve, was unsuccessful. Jones, 23, had been convicted of assault by penetration and unlawful wounding following a brutal attack that resulted in severe injuries to the young girl, including internal and external wounds and notable blood loss. Medical professionals who examined the victim described her injuries as some of the worst they had seen in a child, stating there was no possibility they could have been accidental. Jones was sentenced to an indefinite period for public protection at Nottingham Crown Court in August 2008.

Jones was accused of harming the child while at a hotel on December 31, 2007. He denied the charges, suggesting instead that an intruder might have entered the hotel room and assaulted the girl. Witnesses noted that Jones had been drinking extensively on the night of the incident, consuming spirits, wine, and beer. His case went to London’s Appeal Court, where he challenged the convictions. The appeal was heard by Lord Justice Hooper, Mrs Justice Rafferty, and Mr Justice Cranston, but it was dismissed.

Jones’s lawyers argued that the trial judge improperly allowed the jury to hear evidence from the girl’s mother about what the girl had told her regarding the incident. However, Lord Justice Hooper commented there was “no doubt” that the judge was correct to permit this evidence and rejected the appeal.

Earlier in August 2008, Jones had been sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court, where Judge John Milmo, QC, described him as presenting a high risk of further harm and showing little understanding of the impact upon the child. Jones, then 22, had no prior convictions for sex offenses and faced charges of raping the girl and wounding her with intent—charges he was acquitted of by the jury. The court noted the severity of injuries inflicted and that the attack had put the child's life at risk, especially considering the significant blood loss.

On the night of the assault, witnesses observed Jones drinking in the hotel bar, with the deputy general manager noting he appeared intoxicated. Medical examiner Dr. Emma Fillmore, who treated the girl at Queen’s Medical Centre, indicated that the injuries were likely caused early that morning, as the girl showed no signs of a longer-standing injury or illness.

During the trial, Jones’s defense lawyer, Mark Van der Zwart, emphasized that the assault was unplanned and highlighted that Jones was generally a hard-working man with stable employment prior to the incident.