DOMESTIC ABUSER GARETH WYN JONES TO BE RELEASED DESPITE DANGER TO PUBLIC
A man who threatened his former partner Rhianon Bragg at gunpoint will be released from prison in February, despite a parole panel’s conclusion that his release would not be safe for the community.Gareth Wyn Jones, who is serving a four-and-a-half-year sentence for taking Rhianon hostage overnight following their breakup in 2019, also stalked her and issued threats to kill.
Upon release, he will be subject to five years of supervised parole.
A recent review by the parole board determined that releasing him at this time would pose a risk since he has not accepted responsibility for his actions.
Nonetheless, he will be automatically released in February and will undergo five years of supervision, with the possibility of recall if he commits further offenses.
Jones had participated in a program designed to address his issues with relationships, but professionals questioned whether his release plan, which restricts contacts, movements, and activities, was sufficiently robust.
The panel commented: "After considering the nature of his offending, his progress in custody, and the evidence provided in the dossier, the panel was not convinced that release at this stage would ensure public safety." Rhianon Bragg, from Eryri (Snowdonia), disclosed her traumatic experience after ending a five-year abusive relationship with Jones.
During this period, he harassed her and her four children, leading her to report him to the police, which resulted in his arrests three times and the confiscation of his firearms—though these were later returned.
Prosecutors acknowledged they could have charged Jones with harassment three months earlier, a move that might have prevented the hostage situation.
Jones received an extended determinate sentence, combining a fixed jail term with an extended period on licence following his release.
Such parole decisions are generally made when two-thirds of the sentence has been served—about 18 months into his term—although the process of gathering reports and holding hearings can take several months.
