RAYMOND JONES OF CASTLEFORD SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES AGAINST CHILDREN

In April 2013, Raymond Jones, a 75-year-old resident of Castleford, was sentenced to a decade in prison after being found guilty of multiple serious sexual offences involving minors. The case, heard at Leeds Crown Court, highlighted the ongoing danger Jones posed to children despite his advanced age, with the presiding judge emphasizing that age does not diminish the threat he represents.

It was revealed during the trial that Jones had a prior conviction from 2005, which resulted in a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) that prohibited him from having children under the age of 16 in his home. Despite this legal restriction, incidents continued to occur. In June of the previous year, a witness observed two girls, aged 13, and a boy, aged 12, fleeing from Jones’s residence on The Green in Airedale, Castleford. The witness, alarmed by the situation, promptly contacted the police.

When officers arrived, they found Jones dressed only in boxer shorts and a string vest. As they approached, Jones attempted to physically grab the arm of the boy as he was leaving, but the boy managed to free himself. Prosecutor Philip Adams told the court that when the children were questioned, they reported that Jones had exposed himself, stating he had “got his bits out.” The children also described how Jones made suggestive remarks while they watched a pornographic film, further indicating his inappropriate behavior.

Jones denied any sexual misconduct, claiming that the boy who answered the door had asked him for a cigarette and that it was this boy who had let the girls into his house. Despite his denial, Jones was released on bail. However, in December, he committed further violations by allowing two more boys into his home. During this incident, Jones pulled down one boy’s trousers and began to touch him sexually. His actions were interrupted only when the mother of the other boy, along with some acquaintances, arrived at the house, knocking on the door and seeking her son.

Jones’s defense solicitor, Christopher Morton, stated that it was only after hearing the women outside calling him a paedophile that Jones realized the gravity of his actions and the accusations against him. The court found this acknowledgment insufficient to mitigate his culpability.

Ultimately, Jones was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with an additional five years on license following his release. He pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including causing a child to watch a sexual act, inciting sexual activity, engaging in sexual acts in the presence of a child, causing a child to engage in sexual activity, and breaching his Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

Judge James Spencer QC delivered the sentence, emphasizing that regardless of whether children exhibit precocious behavior, the law exists to protect them. He underscored that Jones’s repeated offending demonstrated, beyond any doubt, that he remained a significant danger to young children, and his actions warranted a lengthy custodial sentence to safeguard the community.