Richard Jones 70

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63-year-old Richard Jones from Grange Road in Shanklin has begun a 7-and-a-half-year prison sentence for historic sex offences against children as young as 6.

Jones, who is also known as Richard Bloch, has been convicted of 7 counts of indecent assault and 2 of gross indecency for crimes committed against 4 girls between 1991 and 2002.

Brighton Crown Court heard how the former Ryde Job Centre worker carried out the sexual assaults on 4 girls aged between 6 and 11 in the Crawley, North West London and Kent areas over the 11-year period.

Detective Sergeant Sian Harding of the West Sussex Safeguarding Investigation Unit has said:

Jones, who was known as Bloch until he changed his name in 1995, befriended the girls families, worked his way into their confidence and systematically abused them, in most cases over a period of two or more years, for his own gratification.

This came to light in 2015 when police were investigating an unrelated matter which is still under investigation.

We will always take seriously all reports of sexual offences, from however long ago, and try to investigate wherever possible, to seek to achieve justice for the victims if we can.

Richard Jones was sentenced on Thursday. He will remain on the sex offenders register for life.

Jones actions were calculated and predatory and it is concerning to think how he would have remained unpunished had his crime not come to light.

While his actions will have had a devastating impact on his victims and their families, he is now facing the consequences of the sickening abuse he carried out.

This case shows that victims of past sexual abuse will be listened to, and justice achieved, no matter how long ago the offences took place.