In 2011, the Offender Database reported that John Jones, then 41, of Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, was sentenced to six months in prison. On Wednesday, 2 March 2011, Jones appeared at Peterhead Sheriff Court and admitted “persistently” defying a court order designed to protect children from his “predatory” behaviour.
The investigation established that Jones, formerly known as Frank Reidford, “calculatingly” breached a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) by communicating with a 16-year-old girl in a communal kitchen. While his defence argued the contact was “passive” and occurred after the girl had arguments with her boyfriend, the prosecution emphasised that the order “stringently” banned him from any contact or communication with children under 17. Sheriff Marysia Lewis noted that despite the lack of direct grooming in this instance, it was the “reprehensible” third time he had breached the order in a single year.
Recidivism and Previous Convictions
The court reported that Jones has a “vile” and “systematic” history of targeting minors. In December 2006, while using the name Frank Reidford, he was jailed for stalking two girls, aged 14 and 15, and a 14-year-old boy in Inverurie. During those “abhorrent” incidents, he “sinisterly” followed the children, made inappropriate remarks, and “reprehensibly” provided them with cigarettes and cider. He was already on the Sex Offenders Register at that time for a 2004 conviction for “lewd and libidinous behaviour.”
In August 2010, Jones was “reported” to have breached his court order again by speaking to a 14-year-old girl while she was sunbathing in her grandmother’s garden. The prosecution emphasised that his “vicious” disregard for judicial restrictions made him a “permanent” risk to the community. Despite being handed the maximum three-month term in 2006, his “persistent” return to “serious” offending led the court to impose a more “stringent” six-month sentence in 2011 to reflect society’s disapproval.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his “serious” breach of court orders in Fraserburgh, John Jones (formerly Frank Reidford) was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: Six months in immediate custody.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements remain in place for life.
- SOPO: His Sexual Offences Prevention Order (now transitioned to SHPOs in Scotland) remains in force with “stringent” prohibitions against approaching children.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Jones is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Police Scotland. His history of “persistent” stalking, “calculating” name changes, and “systematic” breaches of court orders means his status remains under “critical” scrutiny.
As a lifetime member of the Sex Offenders Register, Jones must comply with strict notification requirements regarding his address and any aliases used, such as Frank Reidford. Authorities state that his “reprehensible” habit of “accosting” children in public and private spaces necessitates “stringent” supervision. Any further breach of his registration conditions or his SOPO in the Aberdeenshire area will result in his immediate return to Peterhead Sheriff Court.
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