Councillor cleared of sexual assaults
ACOUNCILLOR has been acquitted of charges of sexually assaulting two women.
Rhondda Cynon Taf councillor William Haydn Rees Jones, 67, denied two counts of sexual assault against two different women.
Yesterday he walked out of court a free man after the jury reached a non-guilty verdict.
Sighs of relief were heard from Jones’ supporters in the public gallery when the verdict was reached.
When the case was opened Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard that the councillor was alleged to have “put his hands all over” a woman in one incident, which took place in Treorchy in March 2015.
Nearly three years later Jones was accused of using an electric body massager to touch a second woman at his home.
On Thursday he gave evidence about the first incident, which happened at a shop Plaid Cymru was renting in Station Road, Treorchy, as a party base ahead of the 2015 general election.
Jones was a party member and activist at the time.
The court had heard Jones’ “hands went everywhere” after he picked up the woman without warning.
The woman, who cannot be named, told the court she repeatedly yelled “no” but Jones ignored her and continued to touch her body.
Jones, of Eileen Place, Treherbert, admitted putting the woman in a “fireman’s lift” but said it was just “larking around” because it was cold.
He said the incident was a “misunderstanding” and he thought the woman had been “encouraging” him.
“I was getting a little bit tired. I lost my balance and we both ended up on the floor,” he said.
In the second incident, in January, Jones was accused of using an electric body massager on a woman’s breasts and groin area.
He told the court the incident was not sexual and was instead to help the second alleged victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, with a chest infection.
He told the court: “I said to [the victim] that I use a massager on my mother for circulation and when she has a bad chest. It really works well.”
Jones said he then used the electric body massager on the alleged victim’s shoulders and legs over her clothing.
When asked by defence barrister Susan Ferrier if he sexually assaulted either of the women, Jones replied: “No, I did not.”
The jury found Jones not guilty of both counts.
Concluding the case Judge Richard Twomlow said: “You [Jones] have been found not guilty of both counts.
“You are discharged from the court.”