Daniel Jones

A 28-year-old man from Worcestershire, Daniel Jones, has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for committing two rapes against women he met through social media. The offences, which occurred in 2020 and 2021, involved Jones using the anonymous app Whisper to lure his victims before subjecting them to sexual violence.

The first incident took place in April 2020. Jones contacted a woman on Whisper and arranged to meet her in Norfolk. Upon meeting, he raped her and stole her wedding and engagement rings, compounding the trauma inflicted on the victim. Despite the violation, the woman bravely reported the crime to the police, providing crucial details that would later aid in Jones's identification.

• Jones travelled from Worcestershire to Norfolk to meet the victim.
• The rape occurred following their social media interaction.
• The theft of personal jewellery added to the victim's distress.

The second offence happened in January 2021. Following further exchanges on social media, Jones drove to Somerset to meet another woman. He then took her back to his home address in Welland, Worcestershire, where he raped her. This victim also demonstrated remarkable courage by coming forward to officers, enabling investigators to link the cases.

West Mercia Police arrested Jones after identifying him through the victims' reports. Following a thorough investigation, he was charged with two counts of rape. At Worcester Crown Court, Jones was found guilty after a trial in October 2021. Sentencing occurred on 12 November 2021, where Judge (name not specified in source) imposed the 17-year custodial term, reflecting the severity of the crimes.

Detective Constable Carl Shenton, who led the investigation, commended the victims' bravery: 'I would like to thank the victims for coming forward and giving their evidence, as well as the bravery they have shown in doing so. Hopefully this sentence will offer them some sort of closure and allow them to move forward with their lives.' The case was handled by West Mercia Police, highlighting their commitment to supporting victims of sexual offences. Source: West Mercia Police official news release, published 12 November 2021.