PAUL JONES FROM SWINDON SENTENCED FOR INTERNET-BASED SEXUAL ASSAULT IN SAVERNAKE FOREST

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Swindon, a man named Paul Jones has been convicted and sentenced to prison for heinous acts committed after luring a teenage girl through an online chatroom. The incident, which took place in September of the previous year, involved Jones, aged 21 at the time, targeting a 14-year-old girl whom he had groomed and manipulated through persistent communication.

According to court proceedings, Jones initially engaged the girl by asking her personal questions, including her age and whether she was a virgin. His predatory behavior was detailed by prosecutor Simon Morgan, who explained that Jones had arranged to meet the girl in person in Swindon. On the day of the meeting, Jones picked her up in his vehicle and drove her to Savernake Forest, a location known for its secluded nature, where the assault occurred.

The court heard that the girl’s friends had expressed concern about her whereabouts, noting that she had been in regular contact via mobile phone. However, Jones had cunningly made her place her phone in a side-pocket of the car, effectively preventing her from calling for help during the ordeal. After the assault, Jones sped back to Swindon and dropped the girl off, leaving her visibly upset. The girl, distressed by the incident, sought medical attention and confided in her doctor, who subsequently contacted law enforcement authorities.

Law enforcement officers executed a search of Jones’s residence on Burbage Road in Swindon, where they seized and examined his computer. Investigators uncovered messages from Jones to the girl, which he had signed with the alias “The Swindoner,” revealing his manipulative tactics and intent.

Jones faced multiple charges, ultimately admitting to abducting a child and committing two counts of indecent assault. Prosecutors had initially considered additional charges of rape and false imprisonment, but these were ultimately dropped. During the sentencing hearing, Judge Thomas Longbotham emphasized the severity of the crime, stating, “You were five or six years older, she could not consent.”

As a result, Paul Jones was sentenced to four years in prison, with an extended license period of two years. The court also mandated that he be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life, prohibited from working with children, and issued a restraint order that barred him from accessing any internet chatrooms. This case underscores the dangers of online grooming and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable minors from predators lurking in digital spaces.