Jordan Gareth Jones: Nearly a decade of jail time for indecently assaulting young girl in Katanning burglary

A Katanning man who sexually assaulted an eight-year-old during a home burglary has been jailed for eight years. Jordan Gareth Jones was sentenced on Tuesday in Perth District Court for indecently dealing with a child under 13, aggravated home burglary and commit, and stealing. In the early hours of November 2022, the 29-year-old broke into a Katanning home and stole seven Samsung Galaxy tablets, a Lenovo tablet, and car keys. Three children were asleep on a couch in the lounge room, including an eight-year-old girl who woke up and saw Jones crouching near her. Jones walked away but came back soon after and indecently assaulted her. After the assault, he kissed the girl on the head and said he would see her in the morning. After Jones left, the girl woke her parents and told them a man had touched her. The girl’s father shouted at Jones as he fled with the stolen items. Jones pleaded guilty to the aggravated home burglary and stealing on May 6, 2024, and was found guilty of indecently dealing with a child under 13 on May 9, 2024, in Albany District Court. District Court Judge Wendy Gillan said she was satisfied Jones did not go into the home intending to indecently deal with the girl, but was “opportunistic”. A victim impact statement from the victim’s parents said the girl has ongoing trauma from the assault and has become anxious about attending school, which has affected her school work. “Your offending against (the girl), while serious, was relatively short in time,” she said. “But she was only eight years of age, and you were there uninvited. “You were much older and not known to her. “She was very frightened, and she was entitled to feel safe and not be touched in that way.” Judge Gillan took into account Jones’ two pleas of guilty on May 6, his cognitive deficits outlined in a neuropsychologist report, and his prior good character. Jones was sentenced to eight years in prison, backdated to November 30, 2022, to account for time spent in custody. A restraining order was made in favour of the eight-year-old girl, and Jones was made eligible for parole. If you or someone you know needs help, contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), or Sexual Assault Counselling Australia on 1800 211 028, the WA Sexual Assault Resource Centre on 6458 1828 or 1800 199 888 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.