Manchester tech millionaire GUILTY of rape
Lawrence Jones, the former boss of UKFast, drugged and raped two women in the 1990s
Last updated 23rd Nov 2023
A multi-millionaire tech entrepreneur has been behind bars for 10 months after he was convicted of sexually assaulting an ex-employee, it can be reported today.
Lawrence Jones, 55, was remanded in custody in January after a jury at Manchester Crown Court found him guilty of the offence.
On Thursday, reporting restrictions in the case were lifted at the conclusion of a second trial in which the former chief executive of UKFast was convicted of drugging and raping two women decades earlier when he worked as a hotel bar pianist.
He will be sentenced for all matters on December 1.
Jones, from Hale Barns, Greater Manchester, set up the web hosting provider with his wife Gail from a spare bedroom in September 1999.
The company went on to deal with more than 5,000 clients including the NHS, the Ministry of Defence and the Cabinet Office.
UKFast employed around 500 staff, including many young people, and its success led to Jones becoming a MBE in 2015 for services to the digital economy.
In January 2019 a former employee rang police to make a string of allegations against Jones including that he had forced himself on her to have sex in 2010.
A second woman then came forward to say that Jones sexually assaulted her in a hotel on a 2013 business trip.
At Jones's first trial, prosecutor Eloise Marshall KC told jurors:
"On the way to the hotel in the back of a taxi he (Jones) commented inappropriately that he could see up her dress.
"When they arrived at the hotel, it transpired that although she had a separate room to Jones, it was part of the penthouse suite and adjoined a seating area, with an open bath and Mr Jones's bedroom."
The pair later had drinks in the hotel bar where the complainant said she became upset when Jones asked intrusive questions about sexual acts with an ex-boyfriend, the court heard.
Ms Marshall went on: "After the bar, they went back up to the penthouse suite.
"He sat next to her on the sofa and became more persistent in his approaches to her despite her clear resistance.
"He put his arm around her and started dragging her in towards him. He ignored (the complainant) repeatedly who was clearly telling him that she did not want to engage in this sort of behaviour.
"Things escalated and he started asking: 'Let me see your knickers.' As he said that he placed his hands on her body, on her legs and became quite forceful trying to prise her legs apart, with his hands on the inside of her thighs.
"This caused her dress to ride up and as she was trying to pull it down and get away, he was trying to get on top of her."
The woman managed to escape from Jones's clutches into her room and locked the door, said the prosecutor.
She later left the company as Jones "paid for her silence", said Ms Marshall, with a £13,000 settlement which required her to sign an NDA (non-disclosure agreement).
Allegations of sexual misconduct against Jones first came to public light in October 2019
The 55-year-old stepped down as CEO of Manchester-based web host provider UKFast after the Financial Times reported claims of sexual harassment and bullying from former members of staff.
Jones was alleged to have sexually assaulted two women he employed and was also accused of unwanted touching, verbal abuse and creating an atmosphere of fear in the workplace.
Other allegations were that he walked topless around the office and sat with female employees on his lap.
The FT said its findings came from interviews with more than 30 ex-employees.
In January 2019, a former employee had contacted police to say she had been raped and sexually assaulted by Jones.
A second woman followed soon after in coming forward to tell police she had been sexually assaulted while she worked at UKFast.
In May 2019, Jones and his wife, Gail, the UKFast co-founder, met Princess Anne when she visited the firm's Hulme campus after it received the Princess Royal Training Award.
Less than three weeks later, Jones voluntarily attended an interview at Longsight police station with his lawyers and provided a prepared statement which denied the claims of the two women.
Jones and his wife severed links with UKFast in May 2020 when they sold their remaining shares to a private equity investor.
In January 2021, Jones, from Hale Barns, Greater Manchester, made his first appearance in court after he was charged with sexual offences against the two ex-employees.
His commercial success came from humble beginnings when he and his wife set up the company from a spare bedroom in September 1999.
UKFast went on to provide web services to more than 5,000 clients including the NHS, the Ministry of Defence and the Cabinet Office.
In 2015, Jones received an MBE for services to the digital economy and, by 2019, he employed about 500 staff across all his businesses.
He was photographed with the then prime minister, Boris Johnson, at the October 2019 Tory party conference - before the FT article was published.
The FT reported that Jones "mixed in high society" and had holidayed at Virgin founder Sir Richard Bronson'sNecker Island property in the Caribbean.
The newspaper described how a large slide ran from the top floor of UKFast's headquarters to beanbags in the reception area below.
It added that beers were handed out from an office bar on Friday afternoons and that the company car park was seasonally transformed into a makeshift beach and an ice rink.
Staff were also invited to team-bonding events at his luxury properties in Verbier, Switzerland, and Snowdonia, Wales.
Jones denounced the FT's depiction of his "dark side" and said all the allegations were untrue.
The father-of-four was cleared of raping and sexually assaulting the first complainant but convicted of one count of sexual assault against the second complainant.
Detective Constable Stewart of Greater Manchester Police said:
"Firstly, we commend the immense courage shown by the women in both investigations for coming forward to disclose the traumatic experiences they have endured. Their bravery has been pivotal in bringing Lawrence Jones to account for his heinous actions and we want to express our deepest gratitude for their strength and resilience throughout this challenging investigation and trial.
"It is our sincere hope that this verdict sends a powerful message to survivors of rape and other sexual offences that their voices will be heard, and that justice can be achieved no matter when it happened or who was involved. No one should suffer in silence, and we encourage anyone who has been a victim of such crimes to come forward and report them to the police.
"We are here to support you, and we will do everything in our power to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable for their actions. The collaborative efforts of the victims, witnesses, and our dedicated investigative team were essential in uncovering the truth and securing this conviction.
"We understand the profound impact that such incidents can have on individuals, and we remain committed to providing support to those involved in this investigation and to those victims who reach out and disclose to us.”
If you’ve been affected by the issues raised in this article, help is available:
St. Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre - Manchester provides a comprehensive and co-ordinated response to men, women and children who live or have been sexually assaulted within Greater Manchester. They offer forensic medical examinations, practical and emotional support as well as a counselling service for all ages. Services are available on a 24-hour basis and can be accessed by calling 0161 276 6515.
Greater Manchester Rape Crisis - is a confidential information, support and counselling service run by women for women over 18 who have been raped or sexually abused at any time in their lives. Call on 0161 273 4500 or email help@manchesterrapecrisis.co.uk
We Are Survivors - provides specialist trauma informed support to male victims in Greater Manchester who have experienced sexual abuse, rape, or sexual exploitation. Call 0161 236 2182.