LAWRENCE JONES SHOCKS MANCHESTER WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT CONVICTIONS
Lawrence Jones, a prominent figure in Manchester's tech industry and once celebrated as one of the UK's most influential entrepreneurs, has been found guilty of multiple serious sexual offenses committed in the city during the 1990s.The conviction comes after a lengthy legal process that has brought to light disturbing allegations against the 55-year-old former UKFast chief executive.
Jones, who co-founded the web hosting company UKFast with his wife Gail in 1999, was once regarded as a leading innovator in the digital economy, amassing an estimated wealth of approximately £700 million, according to the Financial Times.
His company employed around 500 staff members and served over 5,000 clients, including high-profile institutions such as the NHS, the Ministry of Defence, and the Cabinet Office.
His contributions to the industry earned him an MBE in 2015 for services to the digital economy.
Allegations against Jones first surfaced publicly in 2019 when a former employee reported to police that he had sexually assaulted her during a business trip to London.
Following this report, Jones was placed under investigation and answered questions under caution, choosing to respond with
