Barnsley paedophile used Instagram and TikTok to groom teenage girl and manipulate her for sex, court told

Aaron Jones made contact with his 14-year-old victim through sites including TikTok and Instagram, using usernames made up of numbers that hid his identity.

He asked her age, then began asking for naked images and videos of the young victim and offered to pay her.

Over messages, he said that other young girls had done the same thing, Sheffield Crown Court was told.

Gordon Stables, prosecuting, said the messaging began in May 2025 and escalated in June that year when Jones organised to meet the victim.

On one occasion he drove her to what he said was a friend’s house, Mr Stables explained, and sexually abused her.

“He gave her £30 in cash,” Mr Stables added.

Later that same month, Jones asked the victim to meet him again, this time in a public area in Barnsley.

He made her follow him, the court was told, before leading her into a wooded area and sexually abused her again, giving her £20 afterwards.

“He lied about his age, saying he was 29 when at the time of offending he was 31,” said Mr Stables.

“He lied about being from Doncaster.”

In a statement from the victim, read in court by Mr Stables, the girl explained: “He made me feel used.

“It may seem naive but at the time when [Jones] gave me compliments it made me feel good about myself.

“I didn’t see that he was taking advantage of me, of my age, of my naivety.

“I see that now.”

Jones appeared at court via video link wearing a black polo shirt as he prepared to be sentenced for the grooming and sexual assault of young teenage girl.

The now 32-year-old from Barnsley had previously pleaded guilty to 10 offences, including sexual communications with a child and engaging in sexual activity with a child.

The crimes came to light when his victim’s mum saw an explicit message on the teen’s phone, the court was told.

Jones was identified by police tracking down his car - which the victim had previously travelled in - and tracing the email address registered to his social media accounts.

However, he has since refused to give up the pin for his three mobile phones, the prosecuting barrister told the court.

Since the crimes came to light, the victim is left feeling isolated after losing all her friends, her statement added.

The statement read in court continued: “Nobody understands what happened, how it happened, how it made me feel or how it makes me feel now.”

Richard Barradell, representing Jones, pointed out how his client had pleaded guilty at the first possible opportunity, describing that as rare in cases like this.

“Many people simply tough this type of offending out and fall into denial,” Mr Barradell told the court.

He continued to explain that Jones had no prior convictions, had engaged in courses and therapy in prison while waiting for his case to reach court and had taken up jobs in custody.

The barrister also raised a report produced in custody which suggested Jones was of a ‘low to medium’ risk of reoffended and was not sexually interested in children - which Judge Anthony Dunne contested.

“I don’t find the conclusion that he doesn’t have sexual interest in children realistic,” the judge responded.

Mr Barradell ended his mitigation by discussing how Jones had lost contact with his young child, adding: “He has a six-year-old child who he hasn’t had any contact with since he was remanded.”

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Jailing Jones, Judge Dunne said: “[The victim’s] statement sets out the devastating effect that your contact with her has had on both her education and social life.

“Those effects have taken place at a crucial time in her life and in her development.

“She also says how she feels extremely cautious with all men.

“The effects of your behaviour towards her are very likely to be long-lasting, though there is hope that with time and the right support they will ease somewhat.”

He jailed Jones for seven years and seven months and served him with a restraining order banning him from having direct or indirect contact - including digital contact - with the victim.

He has also been banned from working with children.

The judge also organised a date to discuss imposing a sexual harm prevention order.