Lawrence Jones

Multimillionaire businessman Lawrence Jones, the 55-year-old founder of Manchester tech company UK Fast, was exposed as a rapist following a high-profile trial at Manchester Crown Court. Jones was found guilty of two counts of rape committed in the 1990s, when he worked as a piano player in pubs and hotels across the city, and one count of sexual assault in the early 2010s during a business trip.

The offences came to light years after they occurred, with Jones having already spent 10 months in jail prior to the rape convictions due to an earlier conviction for the sexual assault. A reporting restriction was imposed by the judge to prevent media coverage from prejudicing the jury in the subsequent rape trial. The court heard harrowing accounts from the victims, detailing how Jones drugged and assaulted them, exhibiting a pattern of entitlement, dominance, and premeditation.

In December 2023, Judge Sarah Johnston sentenced Jones to 15 years in prison. She remarked, 'These three offences highlight that you thought you could behave with impunity. They are characterised by entitlement, dominance and a total lack of regard for the rights and freedoms of these women, and in my view, an element of sinister premeditation.' One victim stated, 'Rape and sexual assault are never about sex, they are only ever about power. Something the perpetrator clearly was desperate to feel. Victims come in all shapes and sizes - and together we can stand up to get justice. It shouldn’t be this damn hard.' Another added, 'He took my innocence and confidence and hurt me deeply as he was treating me like I was nothing. He made me feel worthless.'

The case, reported by the Manchester Evening News, shocked the public and highlighted the long-term impact of sexual violence, with Jones' downfall marking a significant moment in Greater Manchester's legal landscape for 2023.