Woman, 32, says released sex offender taunted her from window, forcing family to move

Left · 2Jessica Jones, 32, from Powys, Wales, has waived her anonymity to speak publicly for the first time about being sexually abused as a child, and says she and her family had to leave their home after her abuser was released from prison and taunted them. 1 2 Left · 2Ms Jones says she was nine when Raymond Longstaffe, a male family friend, attempted to rape her while babysitting her at his house, after persuading her mother to let her stay the night. 1 2 Left · 2She says he took her into his bedroom, undressed her and threatened to kill her mother's partner with a sledgehammer if she told anyone. 2 1

Left · 2She told her mother the next morning; police were called and, in her account, arrested him. Dyfed-Powys Police interviewed her, she had a hospital medical examination and she later attended court proceedings. 2 1 Left · 2Longstaffe was sentenced to eight months' prison at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court in 2003 and was registered as a sex offender for 10 years. 1 2 Left · 2After his release he moved back into his home opposite hers. Ms Jones says he was often at the window and, if he saw her mother, would pull a face and stick his tongue out. 1 2

Left · 2The family moved house and she later changed schools, saying she feared he would find and harm her or her family and felt safer after moving schools. 2 1 Left · 1She also says that at six she was pinned down and undressed by an older boy at a holiday park playground, for which no further action was taken, and that this made her more aware during the later attack. 2 Left · 2Ms Jones says the abuse contributed to difficulties at school, where she was expelled in Year 10, problems in relationships and years of poor mental health. The Mirror adds that she had five miscarriages, perinatal depression and suicidal thoughts, and found help through somatic bodywork and EMDR therapy, qualifying as a somatic bodywork facilitator in July 2024. 2 1

Left · 2She is married to Tom Jones and has three sons, and is raising money for Rape Crisis, hoping her story will encourage other survivors to seek support. 1 2