Disgraced Manchester tech tycoon stripped of MBE after being jailed for rape and sexual assault

A disgraced tech tycoon has been stripped of his MBE - a year after the millionaire businessman was jailed for 15 years.

Lawrence Jones, who founded UKFast, was imprisoned after being found guilty of drugging and raping two women, as well as sexually assaulting another.

The 55-year-old, from Hale Barns, Cheshire, was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for 'services to the digital economy' in the 2015 New Years Honours list.

But he has now had the honour "cancelled and annulled" by the King following his convictions in November 2023.

The move was announced in the London Gazette on Friday 6 December.

The official statement reads: "The King has directed that the appointment of Lawrence Nigel Jones to be a Member of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, dated 31 December 2014, shall be cancelled and annulled and that his name shall be erased from the Register of the said Order."

Jones was convicted of drugging and raping two women in 1998 while he worked as a hotel bar pianist following a trial in November 2023 at Manchester Crown Court.

After his conviction it was then revealed Jones, who founded the Hulme-based tech firm, had already spent 10 months in jail for sexually assaulting a female employee while on a business trip in 2013, following an earlier trial in January.

Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) stripped Jones of his honorary doctorate, awarded to him in 2016, shortly after.

Jones was sentenced to 14 years for the rape of Woman A, served alongside a seven year sentence for raping Woman B.

He was also given a year for sexual assault bringing the total to 15 years.

Jones, of Brooks Drive, was also ordered to sign the Sex Offender Register for life - and pay court costs of £52,242.

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