RODNEY JONES FROM BRIDGWATER SENTENCED TO 21 MONTHS FOR CHILD ABUSE AFTER FAMILY CAMPAIGN

In a significant development in a long-standing case of child abuse, Rodney Jones, a man formerly residing at Brooklands Flats in Bridgwater, has been sentenced to 21 months in prison following an appeal that overturned his initial suspended sentence. The case, which involved allegations of sexual misconduct spanning over three years, has garnered considerable attention from the local community and the victim’s family, who tirelessly sought justice.

Back in February, the Mercury reported that Jones had admitted to committing 18 counts of indecent assault against a young girl he was allegedly babysitting during the 1960s and 1970s. Despite the gravity of these allegations, Crown Court Judge Graham Hume-Jones decided to impose a two-year suspended sentence, citing Jones’s perceived low risk to the public as the primary reason for sparing him immediate imprisonment. This decision was met with outrage from the victim’s family, who believed that justice had not been adequately served.

Following the sentencing, the victim, who has chosen to remain anonymous, expressed her feelings upon witnessing the man who had caused her so much pain being taken into custody. Speaking outside the Royal Courts of Justice, she described the moment as “an unbelievable feeling,” emphasizing that it marked a closure for her family after years of hardship. “It has put a close on everything and after all the hard work by everybody involved. We did it,” she stated.

Despite the initial ruling, the victim and her family refused to accept the leniency shown by the court. They embarked on a campaign for further legal action, believing that the original sentence was unduly lenient given the nature of the crimes. Their efforts included writing to the Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith QC, requesting a review of the case. They were encouraged when they received confirmation that the appeal was being reconsidered in London, which happened unexpectedly quickly.

On Tuesday, during the appeal hearing, the Attorney General’s legal representatives successfully argued that the original suspended sentence did not adequately reflect the seriousness of the offenses. The panel of judges, consisting of Lord Justice Gage, Mr Justice Forbes, and Mrs Justice Cox, agreed and handed down a new sentence of 21 months to Rodney Jones, with immediate effect. Lord Justice Gage remarked that crimes of this nature, especially those committed historically, typically warrant a sentence of around three years. He also noted that although Jones was 60 years old and considered a low risk to the public now, he should not have been allowed to walk free in February.

As the verdict was announced, family members embraced each other in relief and celebration, knowing that justice had finally been served. Jones was subsequently taken away to begin his prison term, a result that the victim’s family had long hoped for but did not believe would be possible until the appeal process concluded.

Investigating officer Darren Lipscomb, who had been working closely with the family throughout the appeal, expressed his satisfaction with the outcome. “I’m happy that the family has seen justice served and that it allows them to start rebuilding their lives,” he said, emphasizing the importance of the legal process in providing closure for victims of such heinous crimes.