Millionaire once dubbed 'Britain's nicest boss' jailed for drug rape of women
A wealthy businessman once described as 'Britain's nicest millionaire' has been jailed for the drug rape of two women.
Lawrence Jones, who was awarded an MBE in 2015 for services to the digital economy, was accused of assaulting two women in the 1990s while he was a piano player in pubs and hotels across Manchester. He denied all wrongdoing, but after a three-week trial was convicted last month.
Jurors were unanimous in their decision to find him guilty of two counts of rape. He was sentenced to 15 years at Manchester Crown Court on Friday.
Sentencing Jones, Judge Johnston told him: "These three offences highlight that you thought you could behave with impunity. They are characterised by entitlement, dominance and a total lack of regard for the rights and freedoms of these women, and in my view, an element of sinister premeditation."
Jones had already spent 10 months in jail after being convicted of sexual assault (MEN Media)He was jailed for 14 years for the rape relating to Woman A, seven years for the rape relating to Woman B to run concurrently, and one year for sexual assault, to run consecutively. During the trial, the court heard how 55-year-old Jones, then in his 20s, called one woman a ‘pr*** tease’ before pouncing on her after he had given her a glass of red wine, and they had shared cannabis.
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He then told the woman: “So do I have to teach you a lesson (or) are you just gonna let me f*** you.” Jones, from Hale Barns, went on to rape another woman in his flat after telling her she was ‘gorgeous’ before telling her to sniff from a medicine bottle containing clear liquid. The woman said she felt ‘helpless’ before Jones climbed on top of her, the Manchester Evening News reported.
Jurors heard that two women came forward in 2020 and 2021 to make separate allegations of rape. Prosecutor Eloise Marshall KC said Jones ‘used drugs to facilitate’ the rapes, telling the court: “The manner in which the drugs were administered in each case differs, but the effects were the same - both women were stupefied and left partially conscious but unable to react.” Jones had denied both offences, claiming the sexual contact had been consensual with one of the women and that he had never met the other.
It was later revealed that Jones, who founded the tech firm UK Fast, had already spent 10 months in jail after being convicted of sexual assault. He was found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman in a hotel room a decade ago, following a trial which concluded in January. A reporting restriction was imposed by a judge prohibiting the media from reporting on the case, so that the jury in his second trial would not be prejudiced by press coverage. The order was lifted following his conviction.
An honorary doctorate awarded to Jones in 2016 by Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) for business administration was also taken back this week following the news of his convictions. A spokesperson for the university confirmed the award had been "formally rescinded".
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