In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that 33-year-old Jake Jones was jailed for stalking and taunting a victim he had previously abused. Following proceedings at York Crown Court, the defendant—formerly of York but then of Beverley Road, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire—pleaded guilty to breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). It was reported that Jones, who changed his name by deed poll from Jason Middlemass after his release from prison in 2017, used Instagram to target a young boy he had groomed and sexually assaulted years prior.
The investigation established that between 5 and 10 July 2019, Jones used his new identity to follow the youngster on social media. Humberside Police reported that the defendant sent a string of “chilling” messages using intimate nicknames he had used during the original period of abuse. The prosecution reported that Jones asked the victim to “guess who it was,” a move described by the court as a psychological game designed to taunt the survivor. Jones was arrested on 25 August and admitted the breach, claiming he wanted to apologise, though this was rejected by the judiciary.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Jones showed no remorse or contrition, instead displaying predatory behaviour by seeking out his victim under a new name. York Crown Court heard that Jones had previously served a seven-year sentence for the grooming and sexual abuse of three underage boys. The investigation established that the defendant’s claims of making a “mistake” were rubbished by the evidence of persistent messaging, which the court equated to stalking.
The Recorder of York, Judge Sean Morris, presided over the sentencing in late 2019, where he described the Instagram contact as deeply unpleasant and an attempt to restart contact with a vulnerable person. For his actions in Hull and online, Jones was jailed for 32 months. The judge noted that the rehabilitation programmes Jones had been placed on previously had obviously failed, as he continued to present a high risk to his former victims by “playing games” with their minds.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in England, the status of Jake Jones (formerly Jason Middlemass) as of March 2026 was as follows:
- Custodial Sentence: 32 months (Sentenced 2019; released on licence in 2021).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active for life.
- SHPO Status: Sexual Harm Prevention Order active indefinitely (Forbidding contact with all victims).
- Name Status: Registered under both Jake Jones and Jason Middlemass.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at York Crown Court, following a police investigation.
- Criminal Record: Breach of a SHPO; Sexual abuse of a child (3 counts – Historical).
- Origin: Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire; formerly of York.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Jones is managed as a high-risk repeat offender within the Hull and East Riding area. Due to the nature of his conduct, which involved changing his legal name to bypass detection and stalk a former victim, his management is a maximum priority. Authorities state that his history of using “monikers” and social media to taunt those he has abused requires the most intensive level of digital forensic monitoring by the Humberside Police Public Protection Unit.
As a registered sex offender for life, Jones’s details are permanently logged on the national police database under all known aliases. Authorities state that his behaviour demonstrated a defiant and predatory fixation on his previous victims. Any failure to comply with his notification requirements, any attempt to contact survivors, or any unauthorised social media activity in Hull or York will result in immediate arrest to ensure the ongoing safety of the community.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on reporting a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.