Rhys Jones

Rhys Jones, a 27-year-old man from Bridgwater in Somerset, was sentenced to three years' immediate imprisonment at Taunton Crown Court on Friday, 16 January 2026, for a series of serious online child-safeguarding offences and breaches of court-imposed orders.

Jones, who was already subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and required to comply with the Sex Offenders Register (SOR) following prior convictions, pleaded guilty to 13 offences in total. These included making four indecent images of children, six counts of breaching the SOR by failing to notify Avon and Somerset Police of new accounts, usernames, or email addresses on platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, and Gmail, and three breaches of the SHPO by using Dropbox and installing Snapchat on mobile phones.

The offences came to light during an unannounced compliance check at the address where Jones was staying on Friday, 7 November 2025. Officers arrested him on the spot and seized his mobile phone, which forensic analysis later revealed had been used to create the indecent images and to contact a victim—a girl under 16 years old—for his sexual gratification. This contact violated an existing 10-year restraining order protecting the victim.

The SHPO and SOR had originally been imposed by Taunton Magistrates' Court in August 2025. Following the latest breaches, the SHPO was extended indefinitely. In addition to the custodial sentence, Jones received a restraining order prohibiting contact with the victim.

Avon and Somerset Police emphasised the importance of multi-agency collaboration in securing the conviction. Detective Chief Inspector Katherine Paul stated: “Without the positive joint working of the newly formed Offender Manager Investigation Team, the digital team and CID, we would not have been able to achieve this sentence. This case shows the devastating impact online predators can have on vulnerable individuals.” She added that the victim's bravery was exceptional and that the sentence reflected the gravity of the offences, with police prioritising child safety both online and offline.

The investigation was supported by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit, and the measures were described as essential for the long-term safeguarding of the victim and the wider public.