TONY Jones, a person of interest in the disappearance of toddler William Tyrrell, has been sentenced to at least two years in jail for molesting a young child.
Jones, of Wauchope on the state’s mid north coast, was convicted of child sex offences after pleading guilty earlier this year and sentenced today to three years in prison with a non-parole period of two years.
Jones, 59, is being investigated by Strike Force Rosann – the team of detectives probing the suspected abduction of William Tyrrell.
The Daily Telegraph revealed earlier this month that Jones was under the microscope in relation to the disappearance of Spiderman-loving William. He was part of a group called GAPA (Grandparents As Parents Again) which police believe harboured a paedophile ring operating in the area.
The group’s former president Paul Bickford, who was close friends with Jones, is serving a suspended jail sentence for the indecent assault of a separate minor.
District Court Judge Leonie Flannery SC noted that our society treats offences against children with “abhorrence”, as children can take “little or no measures to protect themselves”.
The court heard today that one of the counts related to touching the child’s genital area, and the child had told a relative that Jones had been “touching my rude parts”. The child also said the sexual abuse had gone on for some time.
Judge Flannery stated the two charges were “representative counts” and “part of a course of conduct”.
Prosecutor Brendan Queenan submitted that the extensive publicity surrounding this case had effectively punished Jones outside the court system.
“It is above and beyond what you might expect,” Mr Queenan told the court.
Defence lawyer Stephen Wright told the court that Jones had not been taking his medication for a mental health condition and had been drinking to excess at the time of the offences.
“He is deeply ashamed of what he has done,” Mr Wright said.
Mr Wright acknowledged Jones “has an extensive criminal history but not for offences such as these”.
An adult member of the victim’s family read a victim impact statement saying the child began sleeping erratically and became aggressive.
She told the court that the child was “cranky and I could not understand it” and “refused to leave the house without me”.
Judge Flannery said in delivering the sentence that the child “fortunately seems to be getting better”.
Tony Jones has links to another person of interest in the William Tyrrell case, Bill Spedding. Jones’s family used to live across the road from the whitegoods repairman in Wellington.
Mr Spedding once sold Jones’s daughter a washing machine.
The sentence was reduced to take into account that Jones’ early pleas of guilty had “utilitarian value” within the justice system.
Judge Flannery also considered that Jones has been held in protective custody for 12 months prior to sentencing. Jones has told the court “12 months felt like three years” under the strict contact conditions and only up to one hour of exercise per day.
Jones will become eligible for parole on 26 September 2016.
Judge Flannery indicated he should then be able to attend a sexual offenders program.
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Originally Posted by Jolly Roger
