Jailed rapist accused of “enjoying” putting 15-year-old victim through trial ordeal

THE mother of a teenage rape victim has accused her sex attacker of “enjoying” putting her through the ordeal of a trial.
Canklow Woods, the scene of the attack.Canklow Woods, the scene of the attack.
Canklow Woods, the scene of the attack.

Canklow Woods rapist Paul Jones attacked the 15-year-old girl in November last year — five years after he cornered an 11-year-old girl at a bus stop and performed a sex act in front of her.

The 48-year-old, of Herringthorpe Valley Road, was jailed last Thursday for 20 years for rape and two years for engaging in sexual activity in front of a child, with the sentences to run concurrently.

Children’s charity NSPCC this week condemned the rape as “truly horrific” and said the victim “should be given every support to help her move forward from the horrendous ordeal she suffered”.

Her mum told Sheffield Crown Court in a victim impact statement: “I think he has enjoyed putting the girls through this.”

She said she had noticed a “massive change” in her daughter since the attack.

The girl in the bus stop incident said it had affected her “whole life for the last six years and still does”.

She said she had been forced to change school and her family had moved house as seeing the bus stop reminded her everyday of what had happened.

“When it happened to someone else and it was in the news, an e-fit of him was all over the school,” she said.

“I know it was the teachers’ way of protecting pupils, but it reminded me all the time of what happened – it was awful.”

Despite the court being told DNA evidence linking Jones to both victims had a “one in a billion” chance of being inaccurate, Jones still put the girls through a trial and insisted he had been “fitted up”.

Judge Peter Kelson said Jones’ “arrogance” made him think he could get away with the rape six years after the bus stop offence.

The Advertiser has asked South Yorkshire Police for a picture of Jones to publish but this has still not been received.

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