Elliot Jones: ‘Dangerous’ sexual predator who manipulated women to abuse children jailed
A “dangerous sexual predator” who “forced, pressured and manipulated” three women into sending him child abuse videos has been sentenced to 26 years in prison.
Elliot Jones, 49, of Necton, Norfolk, was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court.
He faced 17 charges of sexual offenses against children, three counts of taking indecent photographs of children and blackmail.
Jones, who also abused some victims, will have an eight-year extended license following his prison sentence.
Sarah Johnson, 57, of Andover, Hampshire, was sentenced to 11 years in prison with a one-year extended license for 12 child sexual offences, three of taking indecent photographs of children and three of distributing indecent photographs.
Heidi Ludbrook, 45, of King’s Lynn, Norfolk, was sentenced to seven years in prison for two counts of conspiracy to cause a child to engage in sexual activity, two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, three counts of taking indecent photographs of a child and three counts of distributing indecent images of children.
Catarina Araujo, 46, of Dereham, Norfolk, was given a 12-month prison sentence suspended for one year for one count of making indecent photographs of children and one count of distributing indecent photographs of children.
Prosecutor Barry McElduff KC said the abuse first came to light after one of the victims disclosed sexual assaults she suffered from Johnson.
He said Jones then blackmailed Johnson into continuing the abuse, which involved Johnson performing sex acts on himself and the young victims, including the use of sex toys.
He said victims described being in “obvious pain and distress”, with one saying the abuse, which occurred “every week for six to 12 months”, left them “broken”.
Mr McElduff said Jones also contacted other women via dating apps in a bid to target more children over a six-year period.
The court heard the eight victims included both boys and girls.
She said: “She was in contact with many other women from whom a clear strategy was evident.
“He became friends with a woman on the internet, started talking to her, effectively pushed the boundaries, talked sexually, shared sexual images and conversations, and eventually moved on to the subject of child abuse and saw how far it would go.
“Heidi Ludbrook and Catarina Araujo were two women who engaged in conversation with Mr. Jones to varying degrees; he was provided with material.”
Judge Adam Feest KC said Jones “forced, pressured and manipulated” the other defendants to take part in the abuse, causing “serious psychological harm” to the victims, with one of whom contemplated suicide.
He told Jones: “You deliberately and effectively manipulated and pressured your defendants.
“Your targeted, repeated and sustained actions had a corrupting and destructive effect on both your victims and your defendants.”
He added: “I am quite satisfied that the risk you pose to others, particularly children, is paramount. I am also quite satisfied that this risk is unlikely to decrease over time.”
Bartholomew O’Toole, defending Jones, said: “He fully accepts the seriousness of these matters and deeply regrets everything he has done.
“He feels remorse for the pain and harm he has caused.”
Adrienne Knight, representing Johnson, said her client suffers from “underlying mental health issues” including ADHD, borderline personality disorder, autism, depression and anxiety, which make him “more vulnerable and susceptible than others”.
Ms Knight said Johnson was “manipulated” by Jones, adding: “He was almost hypnotised, able to control her and force her into things she would never do, overwhelmed with remorse.”
Helen Easterbrook, representing Ludbrook, said her client was “incredibly sorry” for his actions, adding: “There was a lot of clever manipulation involved in this, but that would never have happened for Mr Jones. He allowed himself to fall under that pressure.”
John Montague, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Elliot Jones is a dangerous sexual predator who tactically befriends women online to engage in discussions about child abuse for his own sexual gratification.
“The horrific and persistent crimes enabled by women he met online have caused deep and lasting harm to scores of children over the years.”
