PHILIP JONES FROM WINSFORD SENTENCED FOR DECADES OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN CHESTER

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Winsford, Philip Anthony Jones, aged 58, has been sentenced to a total of three years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple charges of child sexual abuse. The offences, which spanned over a decade, involved the abuse of a young girl over a period of approximately 12 years, beginning when she was just four years old.

Jones, residing at Saxon Crossway in Winsford, faced Chester Crown Court where he admitted to 12 counts of indecency with a child and 11 counts of indecent assault. The crimes took place between 1973 and 1985, with the victim only coming forward after confiding in a friend in December 2008, more than two decades after the abuse had ceased. Due to legal restrictions, the victim's identity remains protected.

The court heard distressing details of the abuse, which began at Jones’s home in Winsford. The young girl was subjected to sexual acts initiated by Jones, who would ask her to lie on top of him and remove her underwear before performing sexual acts in her presence. These assaults reportedly occurred as frequently as three times a week during the early years.

As the girl grew older, the abuse intensified. From the age of eight, Jones continued to perform sexual acts on her regularly, with the abuse only ending when she reached the age of 16. During police interviews, the victim described her ongoing struggles to cope with the trauma but expressed that she did not wish for Jones to be imprisoned. She also conveyed that Jones was genuinely remorseful for his actions and had even attempted to take his own life due to guilt.

Judge Elgan Edwards addressed the court during sentencing, emphasizing the lasting impact of the abuse. He stated, “The suffering you inflicted will never leave the victim,” and underscored the importance of a substantial prison sentence to serve as a warning. The judge remarked that if the court cannot protect children, then society as a whole is at risk.

Jones was sentenced to three years for the indecent assault charges and two years for the indecency with a child charges, with both sentences to run concurrently. Additionally, he was disqualified from ever working with children and will be required to register as a sex offender for life. Upon release, he must continue to notify police of any change of address.

During the hearing, Jones’s wife expressed her confusion and difficulty understanding how her husband could commit such acts, despite their apparently stable marriage. The courtroom was visibly emotional, with members of Jones’s family in the public gallery breaking into tears as the sentence was announced.