Courage of young victim sees North Dorset man jailed for child sexual offences
The bravery of a young victim has helped to ensure a North Dorset man was jailed for sexual offences.
Christopher Jones, aged 47 and of Shaftesbury, appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court on Monday 8 June 2026 and was sentenced to two years in custody for offences of sexually assaulting a teenage girl and possessing indecent images of children.
In August 2024 the defendant was drunk when he approached the victim – who was known to him – at an address in Shaftesbury and sexually assaulted her.
The victim confided in her family about the incident immediately afterwards and the matter was reported to police.
Jones was arrested and a subsequent investigation by Dorset Police’s Child Abuse Investigation Team (CAIT) and Digital Forensics Unit led to the discovery of indecent images of children on his personal electronic devices.
Indecent images are graded from A to C, with A being the most serious in nature. Jones was found in possession of two category B images and eight category C.
As well as being jailed, Jones was made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the sex offenders ‘register indefinitely.
Detective Constable Mark Walsh, of CAIT, said: “I would like to thank the victim in this case for her courage in reporting this matter and the strength she has shown throughout the investigation.
“Her bravery will inspire others who have been the victim of abuse to come forward and know that Dorset Police will do everything in its power to ensure offenders are held accountable for their actions.”
Image gallery:
select image to download