April 2007 ‘Childish’ man jailed for under-age sex An “immature” 21 year-old, who groomed a 13-year-old girl he met in an internet chat-room for sex spent nearly six months in jail on remand facing charges of rape and sexual activity with a child. But on the day his trial was due to start at Isleworth Crown Court, Richard Jones pleaded guilty to two lesser charges relating to the girl and was jailed for 12 months. He will also be on the sex offenders register for 10 years. Jones, described as homeless and from the Hanworth area, admitted engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and meeting a child following sexual grooming – both on September 19 last year. Prosecutor, Jonathan Wright, told the court that in August last year the young girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was contacted by Jones on the internet. “There followed a month when they were in correspondence and then a week when they were in telephone contact. “Then there followed a short meeting in Aylesbury and he invited her to meet him in London, which she did, staying one night. “A week later on September 21 they met again in Aylesbury and went to a spot by a canal where he engaged in sexual activity in her presence,” said counsel. Matters came to light when the girl, concerned about the possibility of disease or pregnancy, attended a clinic. When Jones was arrested he maintained he thought the girl was 16 but “recovered telephone messages and e-mails indicated he was well aware that she was aged 13”, said counsel. Jones finally changed his plea when Judge Richard McGregor-Johnson gave an indication he would not go to prison for more than 12 months. His counsel, Julia Mackworth, said Jones “presented as an immature individual”. “But he now fully accepts he was irresponsible in meeting and engaging in sexual activity with someone who was a child. “But he did not go seeking under-age sex. He is remorseful,” she said. The judge registered not guilty verdicts on the original charges.