DAVID JONES FROM CONSETT CAUGHT WITH CHILD SEX IMAGES IN SHOCKING CASE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Consett, County Durham, a man named David Jones has been exposed for possessing a collection of indecent images of children. The revelation came to light after his now ex-wife discovered an email on his mobile phone containing explicit images of minors, which she described as making her feel 'disgusted.'

Her discovery prompted her to separate from Jones, and she subsequently reported the matter to the police through a third party. The incident sparked a police investigation that led to Jones's arrest the following day, in April. Officers seized his mobile phone and laptop computer during the arrest, which revealed a troubling cache of images.

Prosecutor Liam O’Brien outlined that the police examination uncovered a total of 325 indecent images stored on Jones’s devices. The images were mostly classified as lower-level severity, but notably, nine of them fell into a more serious category, indicating a higher level of explicitness. During police interviews, Jones admitted to seeking out and downloading approximately 5,000 indecent images of young girls over recent years. Many of these images had been stored on a computer that he had since disposed of.

Jones, aged 48 and residing at Selby Gardens in Consett, openly told authorities that he found images of girls aged between eight and sixteen to be 'sexually gratifying.' His frank admissions led to him being charged with multiple offenses. Specifically, he pleaded guilty to 16 counts of making indecent images of children and one count of possession of such images.

During the court proceedings, defense counsel Peter Schofield expressed that Jones 'very much regrets' his actions. He explained that Jones had contemplated seeking help for his behavior but felt isolated, with no support network to turn to, which allowed his offending to continue unchecked. Schofield also noted that the day Jones’s wife discovered the images marked the end of their four-year marriage. She left him within a day, and the incident also resulted in the loss of his job in security work.

Judge Peter Makepeace, presiding over the case, acknowledged Jones’s admissions and the fact that most of the images were of lower severity. As a result, he decided against sending Jones to prison. Instead, he imposed a two-year supervision order that includes mandatory treatment as a sex offender. Additionally, Jones will be required to register as a sex offender for five years and must adhere to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions.

This case highlights the serious nature of child exploitation crimes and the importance of vigilant reporting and swift legal action to protect vulnerable minors from harm.