AITHAN JONES FROM SWANSEA CAUGHT WITH SECRET TABLET IN SHOCKING SEX OFFENDER CASE
In a disturbing development at Swansea Crown Court, Aithan Jones, a 25-year-old known for his troubling history of online sexual offenses, was found in possession of a clandestine tablet device during a police search of his accommodation.The device, which he had failed to disclose to authorities, was purchased from another resident at the hostel where Jones was residing, for a sum of £60, although the payment had not yet been made.
Jones's criminal record is extensive, with previous convictions totaling ten offenses, including five related to sexual misconduct.
His history includes attempts to groom children online and breaches of court orders designed to restrict his online activities.
In 2020, he was found to be violating a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) by using multiple Facebook profiles to contact a young boy and attempting to incite sexual activity.
As a result, he was sentenced to 22 months in prison at Cardiff Crown Court.
Following his release, Jones was placed in an approved hostel in Swansea, where the recent incident took place.
On June 7 of this year, authorities conducted a search of his room, uncovering the hidden tablet device.
The device was equipped with a SIM card and had internet access, raising concerns about potential ongoing online offending.
The court was informed that the device was sold to Jones by another resident at the hostel, with the transaction remaining unpaid.
Jones admitted to breaching his SHPO during the hearing.
Judge Geraint Walters expressed serious concern about his repeated offending, warning that continued violations could lead to him being classified as a dangerous offender, which would result in longer sentences.
The judge criticized the leniency of Jones's previous sentence, stating it should have been twice as long, and emphasized that if he persisted in offending, the consequences would be severe.
In light of his guilty plea, Jones received a sentence of 12 months in prison for breaching the SHPO, with a one-third reduction for his cooperation.
Typically, such a sentence would see him serve up to half in custody before being released on license to serve the remainder in the community.
However, the court clarified that Jones was already recalled to prison to serve the remainder of his 2020 sentence, which was 22 months, and he would not be released until May 2022.
The judge noted that he lacked the authority to make the new sentence run consecutively, so it would not extend his time behind bars.
Jones's criminal history also includes a 2018 conviction after he traveled to Cardiff attempting to meet a child for sexual purposes following online grooming.
However, the supposed child was an undercover member of the paedophile hunting team 'P H Balance,' and no actual child was involved in that incident.
The case underscores the ongoing risks posed by Jones and highlights the importance of vigilant law enforcement efforts to prevent further harm.
