Michael Jones, a former police officer who quit Greater Manchester Police over gross sexual misconduct, has been suspended from his role as referees officer for north-east Wales after shocking details emerged. Jones, from Gwersyllt in Wrexham, regularly refereed Welsh football matches and appeared in a first season episode of Welcome to Wrexham.
Misconduct Details
A Greater Manchester Police misconduct hearing revealed Jones messaged women about his erotic interests while on police duty. One woman was “portraying a child” in a conversation where they arranged a meeting to carry out his fantasy “as daddy spanking his princess.” They met for an hour of sexual activity at a public spot while Jones was on duty, just 10 minutes before he attended a police training course. Two other sexual encounters in public (also known as dogging) occurred on his days off, one in a car park.
Jones bombarded women with texts about sadomasochism, pornography, and “his desired submissive sexual activity.” He also messaged sex workers, telling one she could get “filming work,” though he told the misconduct panel he never used their services. He is among 10 Greater Manchester Police officers found to have contacted sex workers without a legitimate policing purpose. While on duty, he sent dozens of texts about bondage and “kinks,” with 65 messages highlighted from a single shift in December 2020. He also browsed dating and hook-up websites on duty, including a session lasting 3 hours and 20 minutes.
FAW Role and Suspension
When contacted, Jones initially claimed the misconduct case was about a different Mike Jones, but later admitted it was him. He said he “doesn't do anything with football anymore,” yet the north-east Wales football association (NEWFA) website still listed him as referees officer responsible for assigning referees and “dealing with any enquiries regarding our officials.” The FAW confirmed 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. The FAW's priority is to ensure safeguarding concerns are managed fairly, and in accordance with our safeguarding procedures.”
Jones's Response and Background
Jones told us: “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. There was no interest in children. That was all not proven. It was all fantasy role play between consenting adults.” Regarding the woman portraying a child, he said: “She wanted that. It was a brief period of time where she wanted to try 'daddy-daughter' role play. It didn't work out and we just didn't do it. She was unhinged as well.” He claimed he was involved with the English Football Association before taking up a role with NEWFA and recently stopped “anything with football.” After the call, he messaged stating the matter “involved a private, consensual interaction between middle-aged adults” more than five years ago, and that the English FA and GMP investigations concluded no safeguarding concerns.
Jones's alumnus profile on his former school's website stated he worked at Manchester United dealing with crime-related matters on match days, but he later clarified this was part of his policing role, and the club confirmed he was never an employee. The misconduct panel concluded his gross misconduct was “premeditated” and a “significant deviation from instructions,” and he would have been sacked had he not quit.
