Disgraced tycoon stripped of his MBE
Disgraced tech tycoon Lawrence Jones has had his MBE cancelled, one year after a Judge handed down a sentence of 15 years in prison for two rapes and a serious assault.
A posting on the London Gazette stated: “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.”
He joins Harvey Weinstein, Jimmy Savile and Rolf Harris on a list of criminals who have been stripped of their honours.
Manchester Metropolitan University rescinded his honorary doctorate within days of his conviction in November 2023.
But over a year after the jailing of Jones, his former company and its private equity shareholders are still silent about the former owner of tech company UK Fast and the culture he bequeathed them.
At the sentencing hearing on 1 December 2023 HHJ Sarah Johnston, before passing a 15 year sentence, said that the successful technology tycoon presided over a culture that silenced and intimidated women who worked there.
But survivors of Jones, including those who left under duress, have said they are “appalled” at how little the behaviour and legacy of Jones has been recognised, and expressed disappointment that neither his former company, now known as ANS, or private equity backer Inflexion, have issued any kind of public apology.
One survivor told theBusinessDesk.com: “I feel an enormous amount of relief that it’s over and that justice was served but it’s hard not to feel sad about how long it took and how much of life has been tarnished.
“I’m finally able to move on with life, without a high profile trial looming over my head. My heart goes out to any other women who are still suffering in silence who haven’t had their vindication,” she said.
But she also said it was disappointing that ANS has chosen to remain silent about what happened.
“It speaks volumes in terms of culpability. His actions were wildly known and ignored throughout the business, and the industry. People in a position of power, who are able to, should speak out and condemn the behaviour. It’s disappointing and it’s a step backward. Changing the name and absorbing the business does not address the cultural issues or acknowledge the many men and women who had to experience the toxicity of UKFast.”
She added that she appreciated the “amazing support of women” during her ordeal.
“This case could not have happened without the amazing support of women coming together, after all these years to do the right thing. We know all too well that this kind of thing happens, so to have the outpouring of support from other women – women I know and strangers too, is very powerful.”
TheBusinessDesk.com has sought to speak to the senior leadership team at ANS about the transition from the Jones era to now, and to offer them the opportunity to clarify the legal status of women employed by UK Fast and other Jones-owned businesses, who were forced to sign non-disclosure agreements by Jones and people acting for him.
The offer to comment still stands.
