A transgender paedophile rapist who was days away from a parole hearing that could have seen them released back into the community has been found dead in a prison cell.
Benjamin Charles Jones had recently been sentenced behind bars after following a young female tourist through Sydney's CBD and sexually assaulting her in October 2024.
Jones was jailed for three years and four months over the CBD attack and ordered to serve at least two years.
After a 25 per cent reduction for an early guilty plea and credit for time already served, Jones had been eligible for parole from November 21. The hearing was scheduled for November 12.
But Jones was found dead at Cooma Correctional Centre on October 30. The NSW State Parole Authority was notified a week later.
A Corrective Services NSW spokeswoman said no other person was involved in the death.
'On Friday 30 October 2026, a 49-year-old died at Cooma Correctional Centre,' the spokeswoman said.
'Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW) and NSW Police are investigating.
A transgender paedophile rapist who was days away from a parole hearing has been found dead in a prison cell
Jones, who identified as she/her, had recently been sentenced behind bars after following a young female tourist through Sydney's CBD and sexually assaulting her in October 2024.
'Any death in custody is immediately reported to the NSW Coroner and subject to a compulsory public inquiry.'
Jones, who identified as transgender and used she/they pronouns, had previously been jailed for the attempted rape of a woman walking home from dinner in Melbourne in 2021.
Jones had also served seven years in jail in Germany for sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl and was placed on a child sex offenders register after being deported back to Australia in 2018.
CCTV footage from the October 2024 attack showed Jones following the 31-year-old tourist through Sydney's CBD after she left a nightclub.
The court heard Jones followed her through Hyde Park before dragging her into a secluded corner near St Mary's Cathedral and trying to rape her.
Jones shoved a plastic object into the woman's mouth to muffle her screams and tried to remove both their own pants and hers.
'I want to f*** you, just let me f*** you,' Jones told her.
The woman managed to escape during the struggle and sought help from passers-by.
Jones was later arrested after their DNA was found beneath the woman's fingernails and on her clothing.
They pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault without consent and one count of stalking.
In her victim impact statement, the woman said the attack had shattered her sense of safety. Before the assault, she had felt able to walk freely without fear or intimidation.
'I chose not to tell my close family members, including my parents and grandparents, because I did not want to place a burden on them that they could not cope with,' she told the court.
The court also heard Jones had been released into the community just weeks before the Hyde Park attack following breaches of reporting obligations.
According to court documents seen by News.com.au, Jones had delayed notifying police of a move from Victoria to NSW and provided false information, including a claim about living in Sydney's inner west.
NSW District Court Judge Troy Anderson took into account Jones' mental health issues, drug abuse and reported threats from other inmates when sentencing him.
Since his arrest, Jones has spent almost two years in protective isolation due to threats from other prisoners, a circumstance the judge said meant any period of custody would 'weigh more heavily' on him.
'It is certainly a difficult sentencing exercise given the appalling nature of the conduct itself. But the subjective case of the offender is powerful,' Judge Anderson said as he made Jones eligible for parole from November 21.
A parole hearing was scheduled for the following Thursday.
Source link
