Lawrence Jones, the former CEO of UKFast, has been charged with rape and sexual assault following an investigation by detectives.
Jones, 52, of Hale Barns, has been charged with one count of rape and four counts of sexual assault.
He is due to appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on January 26th 2021.
The offences are alleged to have taken place in 2010 and 2013 respectively.
Jones stepped down as CEO of UKFast in October 2019 following allegations that first surfaced in a detailed Financial Times investigation.
At the time he described the allegations as “false and malicious”, and denies all wrongdoing.
In a statement, he said: “Approximately eighteen months ago, I contacted the police and was interviewed voluntarily because I became aware of rumours circulating about me that although false were extremely damaging.
“I have fully co-operated with the police throughout, and am determined to ensure that my name is cleared. In the circumstances, at this time it would not be appropriate to say any more, other than to state clearly that I did not do what is being alleged.”
Jones and wife Gail, UKFast’s co-founders, exited UKFast in May last year when private equity group Inflexion increased its shareholding in the company to around 75%.
The pair each owned 30.9% of UKFast, having already sold a 31.6% stake to Inflection in 2019.
Jones was awarded an MBE in 2015 for services to the digital economy. The Jones family’s net worth was estimated to be £700m by the Sunday Times Rich List 2020.
