Aithan Philip Jones

Aithan Philip Jones, a 25-year-old serial paedophile from Swansea, has been jailed for breaching a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) by possessing a secret tablet computer. Jones, who has a documented history of attempting to sexually groom children online, was residing in an approved hostel in Swansea following his release from a previous prison sentence.

The breach came to light on 7 June 2021, when police conducted a search of Jones's room at the hostel and discovered the internet-enabled tablet device, which he had acquired from another resident for £60 but had not declared to authorities. The device contained a SIM card, allowing online access, in direct violation of the SHPO imposed to manage his behaviour after prior convictions.

Prosecutor Hannah George outlined Jones's criminal background during the hearing at Swansea Crown Court. In 2020, Jones was sentenced to 22 months in prison at Cardiff Crown Court for breaching his SHPO by using multiple Facebook profiles to contact a young boy and attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity. Upon release, he was placed in the Swansea hostel under strict supervision. Jones has four previous convictions comprising 10 offences, five of which are sexual in nature, including online grooming attempts.

• Jones admitted the charge of breaching the SHPO.
• The tablet was sold to him by another hostel resident, who had not yet received payment.
• His prior sentence was described by the judge as too lenient and should have been double the length.

Judge Geraint Walters emphasised the seriousness of the offence, stating that continued offending would likely result in Jones being classified as a dangerous offender, facing significantly longer sentences. He imposed a 12-month custodial sentence, applying a one-third discount for Jones's guilty plea. However, as Jones was recalled to serve the remainder of his 2020 sentence until May 2022, the new term will run concurrently and does not extend his time in custody.

The case was reported by WalesOnline on 23 June 2021, highlighting Jones's pattern of non-compliance with court orders designed to prevent further sexual harm. South Wales Police were involved in the investigation and search.