Am dram company director who sexually abused youths jailed for eight years

Bachelor Ian Jones, aged 51, repeatedly had sex with one boy and paid for naked pictures of the other, a judge was told. Wolverhampton Crown Court heard one of the victims had known Jones since he was under the age of 10 and was a young teenager when the abuse started. It continued for four years, during which time Jones threatened to drop him from the company unless he continued to have sex every two or three weeks.

“He said that if he didn’t have sex he couldn’t expect to be a member of the production team,” revealed Mr Julian Taylor, prosecuting, who continued: “He also scared him with what would happen if his parents found out.”

The victim later told police that as a result of these threats he decided to ‘just get on with it’. At least one of the sex sessions was videoed by Jones.

The defendant paid £60 for the other youth to send him two naked pictures. These were not distributed further.

Jones collected him from school without the knowledge of his parents, plied him with alcohol, kissed him and grabbed him, continued Mr Taylor.

The youth with whom the defendant had repeated sex said: “I was caught in a twisted web. I felt alone and confused. He made me feel worthless.”

The other victim revealed what Jones was doing to his father who told other officials at the theatre company on July 15, 2015. They sacked the culprit and alerted police.

Jones from Central Drive, Lower Gornal, insisted he was not guilty for months before changing his plea just weeks before he was due to stand trial.

He admitted charges including inciting a child to become involved in pornography, attempting to engage in sexual activity and sexual assault.

Mr Simon Rippon, defending, said: “He is a man who improperly took advantage of children in his care.”