November 2017 Former Plymouth teacher who sexually abused pupils avoids having his sentence extended A former teacher who was caged for sex offences against children has avoided having his sentence increased – despite judges agreeing he got off lightly. Glyn Barrington Jones, 57, began his offending as a trainee teacher in Plymouth in the 1970s and continued abusing girls at schools in Norfolk. In total, six victims were abused – five of them under the age of 16 – by Jones, who lived as a “clandestine sex offender” for two decades. He was extradited from Australia and, after admitting seven indecent assaults, was jailed for five years at Norwich Crown Court in August. The case was back in court as the attorney general, Jeremy Wright QC, applied to have the term increased. But despite saying the sentence was “lenient”, appeal judge Lord Justice Simon refused to up Jones’ punishment. “Most of these offences were serial crimes against young people by someone who was in a position which required him to care for them, not abuse them,” he said. But he added: “Looking at the overall sentence, we have concluded that it was a lenient sentence, but should not be characterised as unduly lenient. “In the circumstances, we will not interfere with these sentences.” The court heard Jones had attacked his first victim, kissing her “passionately”, when he was a trainee in Plymouth in the 1970s. She was the only of his victims who was not a pupil of his. Once qualified, he moved to Norfolk, where he worked at two high schools, abusing five different pupils. The girls were flattered at his attention, but were then kissed, groped, and on one occasion, forced to perform a sex act. Jones’ offending did not come to light until many years later, by which time he had emigrated to Australia and was living near Brisbane. For the attorney general today, barrister Paul Jarvis argued that the most serious assault justified five years by itself. To impose five years for abusing all six victims was far too soft, he argued. However, his lawyers argued the sentence was punishment enough, given he had returned to the UK voluntarily and pleaded guilty. Not only would he serve the custodial portion of the term, but he would be prevented from returning to Australia until his licence period has finished, keeping him away from his family. Rejecting the application, Lord Justice Simon, Mr Justice Dove and Judge Mark Brown QC decided that the five-year term might be soft, but not too soft. The length of the sentence was upheld. August 2017 Former PE teacher faces prison after admitting carrying out a string of sex attacks on vulnerable schoolgirls A former PE teacher faces prison after admitting carrying out a string of sex attacks on vulnerable schoolgirls over a 17-year period.  Glyn Jones, 57, admitted carrying out a catalogue of sexual offences against girls as young as 14 over a 17-year period. Jones admitted seven indecent assaults against six victims, who were 16 or under at the time, between 1979 and 1996. The vile sex predator exploited his position as a popular and respected teacher to clinically target youngsters, a court heard. Ruthless Jones even attacked one victim when he was a 19-year-old trainee teacher, Norwich Crown Court was told. The sick pervert taught at Lynn Grove High School in Gorleston, near Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, and Hellesdon High School, Norwich, before he emigrated to Australia. Jones was charged with the historic offences in January last year following an in-depth investigation by Norfolk Police after cops were tipped off. The serial offender initially denied doing anything wrong but changed his pleas just before his trial was due to start. Richard Kelly, prosecuting, said Jones abused his position of trust to sexually assault the young girls. The sly master cunningly groomed his victims by showering them with gifts and flowers in a bid to make the impressionable young girls feel ‘special’. Jones took one girl, who was 15 or 16, in his car to popular Norwich beauty spot Mousehold Heath before sexually assaulting her. The sex-crazed maniac also attacked another girl, who was about 14, on a school trip to a packed local amusement park. One victim said she was now a mum with daughters of her own and realised just how ‘incredibly wrong’ Jones’s behaviour was. Mr Kelly said another girl was sexually assaulted on a school ski trip when she went to his room. Jones is set to be sentenced at Norwich Crown Court tomorrow.