He was supposed to disclose his previous sexual offences if he was likely to be in the presence of children but repeatedly failed to do so
Robert Jones, pictured outside Hull Crown Court(Image: Hull Live)
A convicted sex offender repeatedly ignored a court order – and deliberately kept quiet – instead of telling the parents of young children that he had a sordid secret history. Robert Jones – also known as Richard Lister – was supposed to disclose his previous sexual offences if he was likely to be in the presence of children but he did not say anything about them.
He faced being jailed because of the potential danger that he posed to children and he was now in the “last chance saloon” before being locked up, Hull Crown Court heard. Jones, 35, of North Street, Bridlington, admitted four offences of breaching a 10-year sexual harm prevention order that had been imposed at Leeds Crown Court on October 11, 2019.
Georgia Bradley, prosecuting, said that Jones was also known as Richard Lister. He knew a man from selling some tropical fish to him on Gumtree and he exchanged messages with him. He visited the man’s home on June 29 and August 4 last year.
There were two children living there and Jones told the man that he had been in prison previously. “However, he stated that this was for fighting and drug offences,” said Miss Bradley.
On June 29, the man hosted a barbecue at his home and invited friends. There was a paddling pool in the back garden and, because the man knew everyone there, he allowed his daughter to play without her clothes on.
On August 4, Jones visited the man’s house. The children were left in the hallway with Jones alone. An hour later, the man was told by social services that he should not allow Jones around his children.
The man requested a Sarah’s Law disclosure the next day. “On both occasions, the defendant was at the address in the company of children without disclosing his conviction,” said Miss Bradley.
“He was therefore in breach of the terms of his sexual harm prevention order.” Jones also met another man through a mutual interest in tropical fish. The man’s family travelled to Bridlington from Liverpool and visited Jones.
The man’s daughter was allowed by Jones to play with his dog. They went to the other man’s home, where there were two children, before returning to the home of Jones.
The second family was invited to the barbecue hosted by Jones on June 29. Jones had bought the daughter a baby rabbit and he gave the pet to her after the barbecue.
“While her parents tried to get the rabbit hutch into their car, which was parked further down the street, the daughter was left alone with the defendant in his flat,” said Miss Bradley. “There has been a degree of persistence.
“There have been four separate breaches over a matter of months.” Jones had convictions, including sexual activity with a child, exposure and causing a child to engage in a sexual act.
He had been jailed in October 2019, when he was given the sexual harm prevention order. He was jailed at Leeds Crown Court in 2023 for breaching the order and failing to comply with his registration requirements.
Julia Baggs, mitigating, said that Jones pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. “There has been nothing since, no difficulties or any offending of any kind,” said Miss Baggs.
“He fully accepts responsibility and now, on reflection, realises that he was struggling with loneliness. He was struggling after his release from custody.
“He should have shared the information. He made that foolish decision not to share the information. There are individual visits over a period of time and he was not actually left alone for a significant period of time.
“There are four separate visits, not overnight stays or anything like that. There was a previous breach, which led to a sentence of a period of imprisonment in 2023.”
Recorder Bryan Cox KC said: “He is coming close to a point where a court is going to treat him as dangerous.” Recorder Cox told Jones: “Your history of previous offending, the subsequent breaches, these further breaches and that overall pattern raise a significant concern in my mind that you pose a significant danger to young children.”
Jones was given a 16-month suspended prison sentence, a six-month monitoring order, 20 days’ rehabilitation and a 26-session probation service programme. “If you commit any further offences, I think it almost inevitable that any judge looking at your case will regard you as dangerous,” said Recorder Cox.
“It would mean that you would have to serve a very long sentence of imprisonment. This is very much last chance saloon in you showing that you can be managed in the community.
“You commit serious offences and the courts must do all they can to protect children.”
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