THOMAS JAY OF CIRENCESTER AND MORETON-IN-MARSH BACK IN JAIL FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES AND BREACHING COURT ORDERS

In a series of disturbing incidents spanning over a year, Thomas Asquith, also known as Thomas Jay, has once again found himself behind bars due to his continued violations of court orders and his troubling history of child sexual offenses. His latest convictions highlight a pattern of deceit, manipulation, and predatory behavior that has alarmed authorities and the local communities of Cirencester and Moreton-in-Marsh.

Thomas Jay, who resides on Thomas Street in Cirencester, was previously convicted in 2010 for serious sexual offenses involving minors. His criminal record includes a conviction for inciting a girl under 13 into sexual activity, possessing indecent images, and causing a young girl to engage in sexual acts. Despite these convictions, Jay has repeatedly attempted to re-establish contact with young girls and has breached court-imposed restrictions designed to protect children from him.

In January 2014, Jay's criminal activities came under scrutiny once again when he was sentenced at Gloucester Crown Court to two years in prison. This sentence followed his admission to 14 breaches of a sexual offences prevention order and seven counts of possessing indecent images of children. Court records reveal that Jay, who had previously changed his surname from Asquith to Jay after his 2010 conviction, had ingratiated himself with mothers of young girls, including a woman with three daughters aged 10, 12, and 14. He concealed his past convictions and the existence of the prevention order from her, which prohibited him from having contact with minors.

Prosecutor Julian Kesner detailed how Jay had not only violated the order with the family of the 14-year-old girl but also with two other families, including a woman with a 12-year-old daughter and a neighbor with a 14-year-old daughter. In February of the previous year, social services and police visited the mother’s home in Cirencester to warn her about Jay’s past. Despite being informed of his criminal history and the court order, Jay lied to her, claiming police had made a mistake and that he possessed paperwork to prove his innocence. She believed his falsehoods and continued their relationship.

The court heard that Jay later boasted to another woman that her 14-year-old daughter was “flirting with him” and had even offered him oral sex, a revelation that left the mother feeling sickened and haunted by the comments. When arrested in September 2013, police discovered a USB device connected to Jay’s television containing 58 indecent images classified as Category A—the most severe classification—along with additional images in categories B and C. His criminal history includes previous convictions for sexual offenses, including an incident in 2010 where he sent numerous explicit messages to an 11-year-old girl from Bourton-on-the-Water, encouraging her to send nude photographs.

During the 2010 trial, Judge William Hart described Asquith as “a paedophile and a danger to children,” imposing a two-year prison sentence, a lifelong ban from working with children, and a requirement to sign the sex offenders register for ten years. The judge emphasized the gravity of his offenses and the ongoing threat he posed.

In December 2014, Jay was again detained after breaching a court order by staying overnight in a house in Cirencester where children under 17 were present. This act was a clear violation of the restrictions placed upon him following his previous convictions. The police found that he had also possessed indecent images of children and failed to inform authorities about his whereabouts, further breaching the terms of his court orders. During a hearing at Gloucester Crown Court, Jay pleaded guilty to multiple breaches, including staying at the house in The Green, Cirencester, between August 15 and September 8, 2014, and failing to notify police of his presence there.

Judge William Hart, who presided over the case, expressed his belief that a custodial sentence was inevitable, given the nature of Jay’s repeated violations and the danger he continued to pose. Jay was remanded in custody until January 7, with the court emphasizing the seriousness of his actions and the ongoing risk to children.

Throughout his criminal history, Thomas Asquith has demonstrated a persistent pattern of offending, including a 2010 conviction for grooming an 11-year-old girl, sending her explicit texts, and possessing indecent images. His repeated breaches of court orders and his manipulative behavior have underscored the urgent need for strict supervision and continued legal action to prevent further harm. The courts have made it clear that Jay remains a significant threat, and his incarceration is seen as a necessary step to protect the community from his predatory tendencies.