Anthony Jones 40

Description

The victim of a perverted serial sex offender has been damaged so badly by his "terrible ordeal" that it has "blighted his life in every way imaginable".

He still suffered nightmares and sometimes "shut himself away" from others, Hull Crown Court heard. He found it difficult to show his emotions and trust people and he believed that the problems he had endured had affected him for life.

Anthony Jones, 40, formerly of Bridlington, admitted raping a boy and causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

Andrew Petterson, prosecuting, said that the offences took place in Bridlington. The victim did not report them at the time but, when he became an adult, he felt strong enough to tell the police. Jones was arrested, but during police interview he denied that any sexual activity took place.

In a statement, the victim said that the offences made him feel "terrible". He felt that nobody would believe him. The offences had affected him for life.

"I find it really hard to trust anyone," he said. There had been a "devastating effect" because of the offences.

Jones previously served two jail sentences for sexual offences. He was jailed at York Crown Court for nine years in April 2014. In April 2015, he was jailed at Hull Crown Court for 11 years. He was known at the time as Anthony Vowles, but he later changed his name.

Helen Chapman, mitigating, said that offences of this type inevitably caused damage to those who suffered it. Jones had served two lengthy prison sentences, but he had been at liberty for about three years since then and he had committed no further offences. "He has served an enormous period of his life in custody," said Miss Chapman. "That period of his life is well and truly over."

Recorder David Kelly said of the victim: "Your actions have blighted his life in every way imaginable. Even now, he continues to have nightmares about what you did to him.

"He finds it difficult to trust others. He finds it difficult to show emotion and has periods of low mood when he shuts himself away. All this continues to blight his life after the terrible ordeal that you subjected him to. He is determined to see himself as a survivor and not a victim."

Jones, recently of Kings Road, Harrogate, was jailed for nine years. He was given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and an indefinite restraining order.