JONATHAN SWORD'S SHOCKING CRIME IN HALESOWEN: EX-ARMY SERGEANT MAJOR'S TERRIFYING SEX ATTACK AND DISTURBING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CASE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Halesowen, Jonathan Sword, a 55-year-old former Army sergeant major, was convicted of a heinous sexual assault on a young girl, an incident that has left lasting scars on the victim. The assault took place sometime between the end of 2010 and the beginning of 2011, during which Sword, who was also managing a children's party company at the time, subjected the girl to a terrifying experience that she later described as something she fears she will never recover from.

According to court proceedings, the victim was pushed onto a table by Sword, who then pulled down her tights or leggings and thrust his groin towards her in a brief but deeply traumatic assault. The attack lasted approximately three seconds, but its impact on the girl was profound. Following the assault, Sword reportedly followed her and warned her not to tell her mother, an act that added to the victim’s sense of fear and helplessness. The prosecutor, Daniel White, emphasized the severity of the incident, stating that the victim’s reaction was one of genuine terror and that the incident had profoundly affected her, leaving her with feelings of insecurity and emotional scars that she believed she would never overcome.

The victim, whose identity remains protected, provided a victim impact statement in which she expressed how the incident had damaged her ability to trust others and her capacity for intimacy. She also shared that she was no longer as outgoing as she once was, highlighting the long-term emotional consequences of the assault.

Despite denying the sexual assault charge, Sword was found guilty by a majority verdict after a trial at Worcester Crown Court. The court heard that Sword had a troubling history, including previous convictions for downloading indecent images of children and possessing extreme pornography. These offences spanned from December 15, 2012, to May 25, 2016, and included disturbing material such as videos depicting sexual acts on a deceased individual in a mortuary and images of torture and rape involving a female victim.

During his time working as a mortuary worker, concerns about Sword’s behaviour were raised, leading to police seizing his laptop. The investigation uncovered a vile collection of 252 indecent images and 59 videos, some classified as Category A, the most serious level of child exploitation material. The police report described the collection as “very disturbing,” and it was this material that ultimately contributed to his convictions for six counts of making indecent images of children and two counts of possessing extreme pornography.

It was revealed that the sexual assault occurred prior to these offences, which meant that the court could not activate a previous 16-month suspended sentence imposed in October 2016. Nevertheless, Sword was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work, participate in 30 rehabilitation activity days, and contribute £1,000 towards court costs.

Judge Nicholas Cole, presiding over the case, described the assault as one where the victim was “naturally terrified,” emphasizing the gravity of the crime. The court’s decision reflected the seriousness of Sword’s actions and his troubling history, which includes both the sexual assault and the possession of highly disturbing material. Sword’s case has raised significant concerns within the Halesowen community, highlighting the importance of vigilance and the ongoing need to protect vulnerable individuals from harm.