PAUL JONES FROM PENHILL SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT NEAR MARLBOROUGH AND HUNGERFORD

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the local community, Paul Jones, a 21-year-old man from Penhill, was sentenced to four years in prison for the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl. The incident, which took place near Marlborough and Hungerford, was the culmination of a grooming process carried out through online chatrooms, where Jones had been in contact with multiple young individuals.

Jones was arrested in September following a police investigation that uncovered disturbing evidence of his online activities. The timing of his arrest coincided with Microsoft’s announcement to shut down all its chatrooms due to increasing reports of abuse, highlighting the widespread concern over online safety for minors.

According to court proceedings, Jones had targeted and groomed the 14-year-old girl, engaging her in conversations where he inquired about her age and whether she was a virgin. The court heard that he had established a rapport with her, along with 39 other young people of similar age, through various chat platforms. Prosecutor Simon Morgan detailed that Jones had arranged to meet the girl in person on September 22 of the previous year.

On the day of the meeting, the girl was at a party when Jones picked her up in his car from Swindon. He then drove her to a shop in Hungerford, Berkshire, where he purchased three Bacardi Breezers for her and a Coke for himself. The pair subsequently traveled to Savernake Forest, located near Marlborough, where the sexual assault occurred. Court documents reveal that after leaving the car, the girl performed a sexual act on Jones.

Following the incident, Jones drove her back to Swindon at high speed and dropped her off. The girl, distressed by the events, sought medical attention from her general practitioner, who then contacted the authorities. An investigation ensued, leading police to search Jones’s home on Burbage Road in Penhill. During the search, officers examined his computer’s hard drives and uncovered messages from Jones to the girl, who was using the alias 'The Swindoner.'

One of the messages included a disturbing confession: “I don’t mind younger girls because I find them a turn-on. I just find 14 to 16 sexy.” The girl had previously told Jones she was a virgin, which added to the gravity of his actions.

Jones’s defense attorney, Ian Lawrie, described his client as a man of previously good character, supported by his live-in girlfriend and family. However, the court was not swayed from the seriousness of the charges. Jones admitted to abducting a child and committing two counts of indecent assault. Notably, charges of rape and false imprisonment were dropped during the proceedings.

Judge Thomas Longbotham emphasized that consent was irrelevant in this case, stating, “It did not matter if the girl consented to any sexual activity initially. You were five or six years older, she could not consent. She was vulnerable, very vulnerable, and you took advantage of that.”

As a result, Jones was sentenced to four years in prison, with an extended license period of two additional years. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life, barred from working with children, and prohibited from accessing any internet chatrooms under a restraint order. The court’s decision underscores the importance of safeguarding minors from online predators and holding offenders accountable for their actions.