Ashley Jones

Ashley Jones, a 38-year-old resident of North Street in Barrow, appeared at South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court on November 27, 2023, where he was sentenced for multiple breaches of court orders related to his status as a registered sex offender.

The charges stemmed from Jones's failure to adhere to a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) imposed by Preston Crown Court on February 17, 2023. Specifically, Jones pleaded guilty to three counts of breaching the SHPO and one count of failing to comply with the notification requirements of the sex offenders register. The breaches occurred in Accrington and Barrow during 2023.

• On or before August 18, 2023, Jones downloaded the Patreon and Telegram mobile applications, actions prohibited under the terms of his SHPO.
• On or before October 21, 2023, in Barrow, he failed to declare an online alias email address within the required three-day period after its creation.
• On November 14, 2023, without reasonable excuse, he disposed of a device capable of accessing the internet, further violating the order.

Magistrates determined that the offences had crossed the custody threshold, indicating that imprisonment was warranted in principle. However, they exercised discretion and stepped back from imposing an immediate custodial sentence. Instead, Jones was ordered to complete 10 days of rehabilitation activities as part of an 18-week community order, which was suspended for 12 months.

The case was reported by Alec Whitaker, Court Reporter for the North West Evening Mail, highlighting ongoing efforts to monitor and enforce restrictions on sex offenders in the region. No further details on Jones's original conviction were provided in the proceedings, but the SHPO and register requirements underscore the seriousness of his prior sexual offences.