'Predator' jailed for manipulating women to abuse children

A "dangerous sexual predator" who coerced women into engaging in child abuse "for his own sexual gratification" has been jailed for 26 years.

Elliot Jones, 49, of Necton, Norfolk, abused eight children - both boys and girls - over a period of six years.

Three women who he "coerced, pressured and manipulated" into sending him videos of child abuse have also been sentenced.

Jones was jailed at Winchester Crown Court on Friday for 17 counts of sexual offences against children, three counts of making indecent photographs of children and a charge of blackmail.

Of the three women involved in the case, Sarah Johnson, 57, of Andover, Hampshire, was sentenced to 11 years in prison with an extended licence period of one year for 12 charges of sexual offences against children, three of taking indecent photographs of children and three of distributing indecent photographs.

Heidi Ludbrook, 45, of King's Lynn, Norfolk, was jailed for seven years 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 photos of children and three of distributing indecent images of children.

Catarina Araujo, 46, of Dereham, Norfolk, was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for a year, for one count of taking indecent photographs of children and one count of distributing indecent photographs of children.

Jones, who also personally abused some of the victims, blackmailed Johnson into continuing the abuse, prosecutor Barry McElduff KC said.

He said Jones also contacted other women through dating apps in a bid to target more children during a six-year period.

"He had been in contact with many other women in which a clear strategy is evident.

"He would befriend a woman online, start speaking with them, push effectively at boundaries, talk in a sexual way, share sexual images and chats and move on eventually to the topic of abuse of children to see how far it would go."

Ludbrook and Araujo had engaged in conversation with Jones, and "to varying degrees, he was provided with material," said McElduff.

Bartholomew O'Toole, defending Jones, said: "He does fully acknowledge the seriousness of these matters, and he very much regrets everything he has done.

"He regrets the hurt and the damage he has caused."

Judge Adam Feest KC said Jones had "coerced, pressured and manipulated" the other defendants into taking part in the abuse, which had caused the victims "severe psychological harm".

He told Jones: "Your targeted, repeated and sustained actions have been a corrupting and destructive influence on your victims and co-defendants alike."

The judge added: "I am quite satisfied the risk you pose to others, particularly children, is of the highest order.

"I am also quite satisfied this risk is unlikely to diminish over time."

John Montague, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "Elliot Jones is a dangerous sexual predator who tactically befriended women online to engage in discussions about child abuse for his own sexual gratification.

"His horrifying and persistent offending, enabled by the women he met online, resulted in profound and lasting harm to numerous children over many years."

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