Newark man sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court for kissing teenage girl after giving her money

A pensioner who kissed a teenage girl after giving her money has escaped a prison sentence.

Robert Jones, 69, of Long Lane, Farndon, sexually assaulted the girl at a Newark property on September 18, 2022.

Jones, who goes by the name Paul, entered the bedroom where the girl was, shutting the door behind him, and laid down a £20 note, prosecutor Adrian Amer told Nottingham Crown Court this morning (Monday, March 17).

The girl went to hug him as a gesture of thanks but he placed his hands on both of her shoulders and asked for a kiss.

The teenager went to kiss him on the cheek but Jones moved his head so that his lips touched the edge of her mouth before kissing her again on the lips.

After the victim left the property, Jones sent her a message which read: “I’m very sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking. You have every right to be upset with me. I hope you can forgive me.”

The incident was reported to the police and Jones was charged with sexual assault.

He initially pleaded not guilty and, although admitting in his police interview that he kissed the victim, said it was ‘not sexual’. Jones changed his plea to guilty just before he was due to stand trial in December last year.

Speaking in court this morning, the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, explained that she is ‘constantly living in fear’ of Jones and he has ruined her trust in current and future relationships.

She said: “At the time of the incident I did not know it was sexual assault. I knew what happened wasn’t right but I hadn’t labelled it.

“I was confused and I didn’t know what happened.”

She said he’s made ‘a mockery of her and the court system’ by continuing to tell people he’s not guilty despite his plea and said she wants him to admit what happened so that people believe her.

Defending Jones, Mr Smith Wilde told the court he is of good character with no previous convictions and admitted that it was ‘an absolutely stupid mistake’.

He explained due to Jones having health issues, including type 2 diabetes, he would not be in the position to complete unpaid work.

Sentencing, His Honour Judge Sampson said: “In my view you have sought to minimise what happened.

“Any denial on your part was clearly designed to mislead other people - it’s completely contrary to all the evidence.

“This was not a mere mistake on your part, it was more than that. It was testing the waters and the first step towards grooming [the victim].

“[She] had the sense to reject your advances and report you.”

Jones has been placed on the sex offenders register for five years, given a five year sexual harm prevention order, and handed a one year community order which includes a three month curfew monitored by an electronic tag.

He must also complete 25 rehabilitation days and pay £1,000 to cover prosecution costs and £1,000 as victim surcharge.