Rhys Jones, 27, of Bridgwater, has been sentenced to three years’ immediate imprisonment at Taunton Crown Court on January 16 for serious online child safeguarding offences and multiple breaches of legal orders. Jones pleaded guilty to creating four indecent images of children and committing a total of 13 offences.
The victim, a girl under 16, has been protected by a restraining order, which Jones was found to have breached. This order has been in place for 10 years to prevent contact with the victim, whom Jones had targeted for his own sexual gratification.
Jones also violated the conditions of the Sex Offenders Register (SOR) by failing to notify the police of new social media accounts and email addresses on platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, and Gmail. He pleaded guilty to six counts of breaching the SOR. Furthermore, Jones broke his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) three times by using prohibited services like Dropbox and installing Snapchat on mobile devices, despite the order’s restrictions.
READ MORE: Coin Expert Warns Collectors to Sell 50p Coin Mistakenly Valued at £45,000
READ MORE: Bath Quays North Will “Absolutely” Include Affordable Housing, Says Council
The SHPO, imposed indefinitely, was originally ordered by Taunton Magistrates' Court in August 2025. Authorities discovered Jones’s latest offences during an unannounced compliance visit at his residence on November 7. His devices were seized after forensic examination revealed further breaches of his legal restrictions.
Avon and Somerset Police emphasized that these measures are essential to safeguarding the victim and the public. Detective Chief Inspector Katherine Paul praised the collaborative efforts of multiple teams in securing this conviction. She highlighted the victim’s courage and the importance of protecting children and young people, both online and offline.
“We want to reassure victims that they will be listened to, believed, and supported,” said DCI Paul. “Reporting abuse can be difficult, but no one should face it alone. Dedicated teams are ready to act swiftly to protect anyone at risk.”