Man jailed for child sex offences

STUART JONES

AN OLDHAM man has been jailed for three years for historic sex offences against a young girl who was just nine years old at the time.

Stuart Jones (54), was sentenced at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court after being convicted by a jury following a trial in April.

Earlier the same month he was arrested after going into Oldham's Tommyfield pub drunk, and armed with a Samurai sword and a knife.

The court was told that the sex offences against the youngster had been committed within hours of each other in August 2001.

His victim was said to have been seriously affected by what he did to her, but made no formal complaint until more than ten years later.

Shirley Duckworth prosecuting, said the girl had suffered from severe depression and regarded what he had done as causing her mental torture.

She said she lacked confidence both mentally and physically, and had no trust in anyone - particularly men.

Jones, of Unsworth Way, Oldham, was convicted of offences of indecent assault and indecency with a child by the trial jury, but still maintains his innocence.

Judge Maurice Greene told him: "You were clearly going through a bad patch, but you used this girl for your own ends."

He told him that despite a plea for leniency, the offences were so serious that there was no alternative to immediate custody.

Caroline Patrick defending, said that in 2001 when the sex offences were committed, Jones had been struggling to deal with the breakdown of his marriage, he suffered depression and turned to alcohol.

She said the offences had been isolated incidents and there was no suggestion of anything of a similar nature.

The court had been told that on the day of the weapons offence in Oldham on April 4, Jones had been drinking heavily in the Tommyfield before leaving.

He returned shortly afterwards, clearly drunk, and carrying the sword and knife which he described as ornamental.

Judge Greene said he accepted that he had not been brandishing them in a threatening manner, but said it had been a serious incident given that they were dangerous, and he had been drinking.

Jones was sent down for three years for indecent assault, sentenced to six months concurrent for indecency with a child, two months concurrent for possession of offensive weapons, and seven days concurrent for failing to turn up at his original sentencing hearing a week ago.