Lawrence Jones, the founder of UKFast, has had his MBE revoked by King Charles as part of an initiative to dissociate the monarchy from those previously honoured with national laurels, including knighthoods, who have been implicated in paedophilia, rape, and other sexual offences.
The Gazette states: “THE KING has ordered the cancellation and annulment of Lawrence Nigel JONES’s appointment as a Member of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, dated 31 December 2014, and his name shall be removed from the Register of the said Order.”
Lawrence Jones, a 56-year-old businessman, was incarcerated for raping two women in Manchester 30 years prior and for sexually abusing another a decade ago.
On 1 December 2023, Lawrence Jones was sentenced to 15 years in prison at Manchester Crown Court for multiple rapes and a sexual assault against a third lady in 2013.
He was convicted of the rapes during an 18-day trial in November 2023.
Lawrence Jones denied the offences in interview and throughout the court proceedings, claiming the sexual contact had been consensual with one of the women and that he had never met the other woman.
The women, who were known to Lawrence Jones, described being given some form of drug which made them feel “spaced out” and “really out of it” so they were unable to react to his unwanted sexual advances.
Lawrence Jones was convicted of sexual assault on 31 January 2023.
On sentencing, Judge Sarah Johnston said: “You thought you could behave with impunity… characterised by entitlement, dominance and a lack of regard for the rights and freedoms of these women and in my view, an element of sinister premeditation.”
She added that she had seen references about his achievements and charity work, but “it cannot mitigate your offending.”
The judge said that she had also read a letter from his wife detailing the impact on his family, including his four daughters: “I am sure you feel guilty for them, but for your offending there is no remorse.”
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