Ex-Children’s Reporter boss molested staff

Sleazy boss preyed on workers at parties

A FORMER manager at the Scottish Children’s Reporter has been convicted of indecently assaulting two female colleagues.

One of David Jones’s victims described the former civil servant, now retired after 32 years with the service, as a “pathetic excuse of a man”.

Jones, 71, denied the crimes during a trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court but was found guilty of indecently assaulting both women.

The charges happened between 2007 and 2009 and took place in Hamilton.

A now 59-year-old woman told how she had been targeted by Jones at an office party in 2007. He had stroked her legs despite her warning him to “get off ”.

Sleazy Jones then claimed he wanted to “s**g” his colleague.

He then tried to laugh it off and continued chatting as if nothing had happened.

She told the trial: “When you say, ‘No’, it should mean no.”

Jones, also of Hamilton, said he only had “lighthearted conversations and banter” with one of the women.

Another victim, now 52, initially thought Jones was going to ask her to dance before he molested her. She eventually kicked him between the legs.

The woman admitted she didn’t initially report Jones, telling the court: “He was my boss. I was embarrassed.”

The court was shown emails containing pornography with inappropriate messages said to have been sent by Jones.

The woman replied to him: “You are a pathetic excuse of a man. Do not contact me ever again.”

Jones replied: “Sorry, did not mean to offend. Will not be in touch ever again.”

Sheriff Simone Sweeney found Jones guilty of the indecent assault but acquitted him of sexual assault against the 52-year-old victim as well as communicating indecently with her online. Sentencing was deferred.