GRAHAM JONES OF RYDE SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IN PORTSMOUTH

In November 2004, Graham Jones, a well-known musician from the Isle of Wight, was sentenced to three months in prison on child pornography charges. The singer and guitarist of the popular function band China Grove, Jones, aged 37 and residing on St John’s Wood Road, Ryde, was convicted of possessing 21 counts of child pornography. Despite denying the allegations, Jones was found guilty on October 15 after a trial that lasted two and a half days. He appeared before Portsmouth Crown Court last Friday for sentencing.

Jones received a three-month sentence for each of the 21 charges, with all sentences serving concurrently. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for seven years. The management of China Grove announced that Jones has been replaced in the band, which has earned a significant reputation in the corporate entertainment scene and is considered one of the top showbands nationwide.

A long-time member of China Grove, Jones had been part of the group since its formation a decade earlier. Before joining China Grove, he was a member of the band Fatal Attraction. China Grove initially started as a small holiday camp band before expanding into the cruising and corporate entertainment markets. The band performs approximately 100 gigs annually worldwide, including countries such as Pakistan, Beirut, Cannes, and Dubai.