JONATHAN HUNT FROM RICKMANSWORTH AND SURROUNDING AREAS BANNED AFTER SEXUAL GROOMING CHILD IN SURREY AND LONDON
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Rickmansworth Sexual Abuser
In a serious development that underscores ongoing concerns about online safety and child protection, Jonathan Hunt, also known as Jon Frensham, a financial adviser based in Rickmansworth, has been subjected to regulatory action following his conviction related to a sexual grooming offence involving a minor. The incident, which took place in 2014, led to significant legal and professional repercussions for Hunt, highlighting the dangers posed by individuals who abuse their positions and trust.
In March 2017, Hunt, then operating under his former name Jonathan James Hunt, was convicted at the Old Bailey of attempting to meet a child following a period of sexual grooming. The court heard that Hunt, aged 41 at the time, had engaged in a series of sexually explicit online communications with a girl he believed to be 15 years old, identified as 'Holly' on social media platform Badoo. In reality, Holly was a 36-year-old member of the Internet Interceptors, a vigilant group of parents and online safety advocates dedicated to tracking and apprehending paedophiles and sexual predators across the UK.
According to court records, Hunt's messages became increasingly inappropriate, culminating in him requesting explicit images and discussing a potential meeting. On September 14, 2014, Hunt arranged to meet Holly at Plumstead Station in south-east London. However, he was confronted by members of the Internet Interceptors, who had been monitoring his online activity. The group had set up a sting operation, and Hunt was caught on camera arriving at the station, expecting to meet the girl.
During the confrontation, Hunt denied any intention of engaging in sexual activity, claiming he only wanted to take Holly shopping. Despite his denials, evidence from the sting and his online communications led to his conviction. Hunt admitted to arranging the meeting but insisted that he did not have sex in mind, claiming that his explicit messages were made while he was intoxicated and that his suggestion for Holly to strip in a shop changing room was meant as a joke. Nevertheless, the jury found him guilty of attempting to meet a girl under 16 following grooming.
Hunt's professional life was also affected by his conviction. He has been serving as the executive director of Frensham Wealth in Surrey since December 2019. Following his conviction, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the UK’s financial regulatory body, deemed Hunt unfit to hold any regulated financial activities. The FCA announced that it has moved to prohibit Hunt from performing any regulated activities, citing concerns over his suitability and the risk he poses to consumers and the integrity of the financial system.
The regulator emphasized that Hunt’s actions and conviction have severely undermined public confidence, leading to the decision to withdraw his regulatory permissions. Hunt has appealed this decision to the Upper Tribunal, where both he and the FCA will have the opportunity to present their cases.
Details of the case reveal that Hunt, then known as Jonathan Frensham, had set up a profile on Badoo, where he engaged in conversations with Holly, a girl he believed to be 15. Over time, his messages became increasingly sexualized, and he asked her for pictures in her school uniform. The situation escalated when Hunt arranged to meet Holly at Plumstead Station, a plan that was thwarted by the Internet Interceptors group.
Hunt’s actions and subsequent conviction serve as a stark reminder of the dangers of online grooming and the importance of vigilance. His case also highlights the ongoing efforts by online safety groups and law enforcement to protect children from predators operating under the guise of anonymity on social media platforms. Hunt, who is 51 years old and resides on Shepherds Way in Rickmansworth, faces a future that includes a 22-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, along with a requirement to complete a 60-hour sexual offences prevention program.
As the legal process continues, the case remains a sobering example of the intersection between online misconduct and professional misconduct, prompting calls for increased safeguards and awareness to prevent similar incidents in the future.
In March 2017, Hunt, then operating under his former name Jonathan James Hunt, was convicted at the Old Bailey of attempting to meet a child following a period of sexual grooming. The court heard that Hunt, aged 41 at the time, had engaged in a series of sexually explicit online communications with a girl he believed to be 15 years old, identified as 'Holly' on social media platform Badoo. In reality, Holly was a 36-year-old member of the Internet Interceptors, a vigilant group of parents and online safety advocates dedicated to tracking and apprehending paedophiles and sexual predators across the UK.
According to court records, Hunt's messages became increasingly inappropriate, culminating in him requesting explicit images and discussing a potential meeting. On September 14, 2014, Hunt arranged to meet Holly at Plumstead Station in south-east London. However, he was confronted by members of the Internet Interceptors, who had been monitoring his online activity. The group had set up a sting operation, and Hunt was caught on camera arriving at the station, expecting to meet the girl.
During the confrontation, Hunt denied any intention of engaging in sexual activity, claiming he only wanted to take Holly shopping. Despite his denials, evidence from the sting and his online communications led to his conviction. Hunt admitted to arranging the meeting but insisted that he did not have sex in mind, claiming that his explicit messages were made while he was intoxicated and that his suggestion for Holly to strip in a shop changing room was meant as a joke. Nevertheless, the jury found him guilty of attempting to meet a girl under 16 following grooming.
Hunt's professional life was also affected by his conviction. He has been serving as the executive director of Frensham Wealth in Surrey since December 2019. Following his conviction, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the UK’s financial regulatory body, deemed Hunt unfit to hold any regulated financial activities. The FCA announced that it has moved to prohibit Hunt from performing any regulated activities, citing concerns over his suitability and the risk he poses to consumers and the integrity of the financial system.
The regulator emphasized that Hunt’s actions and conviction have severely undermined public confidence, leading to the decision to withdraw his regulatory permissions. Hunt has appealed this decision to the Upper Tribunal, where both he and the FCA will have the opportunity to present their cases.
Details of the case reveal that Hunt, then known as Jonathan Frensham, had set up a profile on Badoo, where he engaged in conversations with Holly, a girl he believed to be 15. Over time, his messages became increasingly sexualized, and he asked her for pictures in her school uniform. The situation escalated when Hunt arranged to meet Holly at Plumstead Station, a plan that was thwarted by the Internet Interceptors group.
Hunt’s actions and subsequent conviction serve as a stark reminder of the dangers of online grooming and the importance of vigilance. His case also highlights the ongoing efforts by online safety groups and law enforcement to protect children from predators operating under the guise of anonymity on social media platforms. Hunt, who is 51 years old and resides on Shepherds Way in Rickmansworth, faces a future that includes a 22-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, along with a requirement to complete a 60-hour sexual offences prevention program.
As the legal process continues, the case remains a sobering example of the intersection between online misconduct and professional misconduct, prompting calls for increased safeguards and awareness to prevent similar incidents in the future.