Sex offender jailed after committing 13 offences

SEX OFFENDER JAILED AFTER COMMITTING 13 OFFENCES

A man with a criminal record for sexual offenses was sentenced to prison after committing serious online child-protection crimes and violating a court order, having previously committed 13 offenses.

Rhys Jones, aged 27 from Bridgwater, received an immediate three-year prison term when he appeared before Taunton Crown Court on Friday, 16 January.

Jones admitted to six counts of failing to comply with the Sex Offenders Register (SOR) requirements by not informing authorities about new social media accounts, usernames, and email addresses on platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, and Gmail.

He also violated the terms of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) three times by using Dropbox, a file-sharing platform, installing Snapchat on his phones, and he pleaded guilty to producing four indecent images of children.

In addition to his prison sentence, Jones was granted a restraining order preventing him from contacting a girl under 16, who was the target of his previous sexual communications.

This order will last until 2036, while the SHPO has been made indefinite.

The investigation into Jones’s recent offenses began after police conducted a surprise visit to his residence on 7 November to verify his compliance with the court orders, which had been issued in August 2025 by Taunton Magistrates’ Court.

During the visit, officers analyzed his mobile devices, leading to the discovery of incriminating activity.

His devices were then seized, as they contained evidence of breaches of previous court orders.

These legal measures were put in place to reflect the serious nature of his crimes and to protect both the victim and the community at large over the long term.