The ‘nicest boss in Britain’ on rape and sex assault charges
£700m IT chief is accused by two ex-employees
A tech tycoon once named the UK’s ‘nicest boss’ has been charged with rape and sexual assault.
Lawrence Jones, 52, who is among Britain’s 200 richest men, set up cloud computing firm UKFast from his bedroom 21 years ago.
Its success earned him and wife Gail a £700million fortune and access to the rich and famous. he has holidayed with Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson on his private Necker Island and written of his joy at being in Windsor for Prince harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding in 2018.
Jones was also photographed with Boris Johnson at the tory Party conference in 2017.
But the entrepreneur – dubbed ‘nicest boss’ because of the perks given to his staff – stepped down from the helm of the company in November 2019.
Mrs Jones took over for six months but they both formally quit the business in May last year. two former female employees at the Manchester-based firm alleged they had been sexually assaulted by Jones over the past decade, according to an investigation by the Financial times. Yesterday Greater
Manchester Police revealed they had charged the father-offour, of hale Barns, Greater Manchester, with one count of rape and four of sexual assault.
The offences are alleged to have taken place in 2010 and 2013. Jones is due to appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court this month. In a statement issued through his lawyers yesterday, he said he would be fighting the charges.
He added: ‘Approximately 18 months ago, I contacted the police and was interviewed voluntarily because I became aware of rumours circulating about me that, although false, were extremely damaging.
‘I have fully co-operated with the police throughout and am determined to ensure that my name is cleared.
‘In the circumstances, at this time it would not be appropriate to say any more, other than to state clearly that I did not do what is being alleged.’ Jones, originally from Denbigh, North Wales, has four daughters with Gail. In 2001, he was caught in an avalanche while skiing off-piste in France and buried under snow for eight minutes. he was revived before being airlifted to hospital. UKFast was named among the best firms in the country to work for because of perks such as on-site yoga, personal training sessions and a creche.
employees were also allowed to take breaks in the working day to use the office recording studio or even have a nap in sleep pods. the firm’s headquarters feature a slide running from the top floor to the reception area and the car park has been transformed into a beach in summer and an ice rink in winter. the Joneses hosted a summer festival for staff in the grounds of their home, dubbed
UKFest. they also invited workers to their ski chalet in Verbier, Switzerland, and their lakehouse near Snowdon in Wales for sporting holidays, raft-building and team-bonding weekends.
In 2015, Jones, known as ‘Loz’ or ‘LJ’ to staff, was made an MBe by the Queen for services to the digital economy.
Princess Anne visited the firm after granting it a training award in 2018. In 2019, UKFast employed over 365 people.
Its clients include the NhS, the Ministry of Defence and the cabinet Office.
the business made a £5million donation to a charity set up by the Joneses to help disadvantaged young people in 2016.
It has partnered with 60 schools to help improve digital skills and bring women into the technology sector.
‘Determined to clear my name’