He was warned he was in ‘last chance saloon’ in April
Robert Jones, pictured outside Hull Crown Court(Image: Hull Live)
A convicted sex offender who narrowly avoided prison only a few months ago has finally been jailed after shamelessly continuing to keep quiet about his 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 a word about them to anybody.
He deliberately ignored the requirements of a court order – and lived under a different name – but his cover was finally blown when a woman saw a social media post about his recent court appearance and alerted the police, Hull Crown Court heard. Jones, 35, of North Street, Bridlington, but recently in custody on remand, admitted breaching a 10-year sexual harm prevention order that had been imposed at Leeds Crown Court on October 11, 2019.
Ben Weeks, prosecuting, said that Jones, who previously used the name Richard Lister, appeared before Hull Crown Court in April this year for breaching the order. News of this became public through a social media post by a children’s protection group.
A Bridlington woman who knew Jones as “Rob” spotted the post, saying that he was a registered sex offender. Jones had been having nearly daily contact with her child. “She was not aware of his status,” said Mr Weeks.
The woman contacted the police to tell them of this and said that “Rob” would help her with jobs and visit her home. “He would spend time with her and her daughter in the garden of her property,” said Mr Weeks.
“She would leave her daughter with the defendant for short periods of time. At no point did the defendant make her aware of his previous convictions.”
Other people in the area who had contact with Jones were also unaware of the previous convictions. They included people with children or grandchildren.
The situation continued for a “prolonged period” of about 13 months between January 26 last year and February 14 this year. Jones had convictions for 10 previous offences. They included 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.
Amber Hobson, mitigating, said: “He is incredibly sorry to come back before the court in this way. He knows that he now faces the consequences of his actions.
“He was attempting to make friends but was breaching his order. He knows that he is not supposed to have contact with children.
“He knows that he needs to put himself in adult-only opportunities. He knows that he needs to make himself as employable as he can to get himself some kind of work.
“The defendant knows that it is going to be a custodial sentence. He is under no illusions.”
Recorder Simon Kealey KC told Jones: “No one was aware of your previous convictions. There is no dispute that this was a persistent breach.
“It lasted for just over a year. Your risk of serious harm to children, as assessed by the probation officer, remains high.”
Jones was jailed for one year. The previous sexual harm prevention order will remain in force until 2029.
At the previous hearing in April, Jones admitted four offences of breaching the order. He had regularly come into contact with people who had children but he kept quiet about his previous convictions instead of telling them, as required under the terms of the order.
On June 29 last year, Jones was present when a 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 last year, 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, Jones was present in the company of children without disclosing his conviction.
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 last year. 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. Jones had, at the April hearing, been given a 16-month suspended prison sentence, a six-month monitoring order, 20 days’ rehabilitation and a 26-session probation service programme.
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