A former police officer who resigned over gross sexual misconduct has been revealed to be working as a football referee in north Wales. Michael Jones, a former constable with Greater Manchester Police (GMP), was added to the College of Policing barred list after a misconduct hearing detailed his inappropriate behaviour while on duty.
Sexual Misconduct While on Duty
Jones, from Gwersyllt in Wrexham, messaged multiple women about his erotic interests during his shifts. One conversation involved a woman "portraying a child" as they arranged a meeting to fulfill a fantasy described as "as daddy spanking his princess." The following day, while on duty, they met for an hour of sexual activity at a public location. Ten minutes later, he attended a police training course. Two other sexual encounters in public, known as dogging, occurred on his days off, including one in a car park.
While on duty, Jones also sent dozens of texts about bondage and kinks, with 65 messages from a single shift in December 2020 highlighted. He browsed dating and hook-up websites during work hours, including one session lasting three hours and 20 minutes. He also contacted sex workers, offering one "filming work," though he denied using their services. He is among 10 GMP officers found to have contacted sex workers without a legitimate policing purpose.
Misconduct Hearing and Resignation
Shortly before his misconduct hearing, Jones resigned from the force. The panel concluded he would have been sacked for gross misconduct, describing his actions as "premeditated" and a "significant deviation from instructions." His behaviour was deemed a breach of professional standards, bringing discredit to the police service.
In his school alumnus profile on the Ysgol Bryn Alyn website, Jones wrote that he had "done some fantastic things" since joining GMP in 2009, including "arrested people, protected people" and "done all the sexy stuff like been in a riot, driven a vehicle fast on blue lights."
Refereeing Role and Suspension
Despite his misconduct, Jones served as a referees officer for the North East Wales Football Association (NEWFA), responsible for assigning referees across the region and handling inquiries about officials. The FAW confirmed that Jones is suspended "pending the outcome of an ongoing safeguarding investigation." The FAW stated: "An interim suspension is a precautionary safeguarding measure and should not be interpreted as a finding of misconduct. As the investigation remains ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further on the circumstances of the case."
When contacted by WalesOnline, Jones initially denied the misconduct case involved him, claiming it was about a different Mike Jones. After being told the reporter knew this was false, he admitted, "Okay, it was me." He then said, "I don't do anything with football anymore," but the NEWFA website still listed him as a referees officer at the time.
Jones' Defence
Jones told WalesOnline: "I suffer with ADHD and autism. During that time, it was just a foolish mistake. I've got a new job and I'm trying to move on with my life." He claimed there was "no interest in children" and that the conversation involving a child portrayal was "fantasy role play between consenting adults." He added that the woman "wanted to try 'daddy-daughter' role play" but it "didn't work out."
He said the matter "involved a private, consensual interaction between middle-aged adults" more than five years ago and that both the English FA and GMP concluded there were no safeguarding concerns or risk to children. The FAW investigation is described as "precautionary."
Jones also claimed involvement with the English Football Association before his NEWFA role but said he recently stopped "anything with football." When asked about his alumnus profile mentioning work at Manchester United and Old Trafford cricket ground, he clarified that his activities were part of his policing role, not employment. Manchester United confirmed he was never an employee.
