How emotionless Lawrence Jones reacted in court as he learnt his fate

Sitting behind a Perspex screen next to a male dock officer and wearing a smart black jacket and jumper, Lawrence Jones solemnly stared ahead.

He sat emotionless throughout his trial, conviction and as he learned he would be spending the next decade of his life in jail - even as his brave victims stepped forward to tell them the impact of his horrific crimes. It was only as he was led to the cells below upon learning his fate that he looked over to his wife and daughters and quietly said: "I love you."

It's a far fall from grace as the once multimillionaire, revered charity founder and successful businessman was jailed for heinous sex crimes against young women.

Jones, of Hale Barns, was convicted of raping two women in the 1990s whilst working as a professional piano player in pubs and hotels across Manchester city centre. Then in his 20s, he'd given a woman a glass of wine and what she thought was a spliff, before 'pouncing' on her.

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He went on to call her a 'p**** tease', said “do I have to teach you a lesson (or) are you just gonna let me f*** you" and threatened that he could do what he wanted as 'nobody knew she was there'.

Jones went onto rape another woman in his flat after telling her she was ‘gorgeous’ before telling her to sniff from a medicine bottle containing an unknown substance. The woman said she felt ‘helpless’ before Jones climbed on top of her.

Years later, he sexually assaulted another young woman in a hotel room whilst on a business trip. He ‘prised’ her legs apart, put his hands on her thighs and told her he wanted to see her 'knickers’, before trying to climb onto her.

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