War hero general leading Covid fight probed for flouting lockdown laws to romp with married mum
A WAR hero is under investigation for flouting lockdown laws by romping with a married mum.
Major General Rupert Jones, 51, has admitted having an affair at the height of the pandemic.
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The married father of three — son of Falklands hero Colonel H Jones — was tipped as a possible Army head. He now faces a top-level probe.
Maj Gen Jones told bosses he had fallen in love with a married mum, who lives near his Dorset home, and that he was leaving wife Lucinda after 23 years.
He is in charge of the UK’s response to coronavirus overseas — sending medics to the Falkland Islands, where his father earned a posthumous Victoria Cross.
A source said: “He’s been having an affair with a married woman during lockdown. It’s the talk of the headquarters.
“You can’t do social distancing if you’re having steamy trysts with someone from another household.
“She’s married with children and is based in Dorset, where his family lives but she is not military.
“He has been working with all the supply chain staff.
“I don’t know if he’s been meeting her halfway — but he has had to tell colleagues and other people in the military.”
You can’t do social distancing if you’re having steamy trysts with someone from another household.
Maj Gen Jones — who in 2016 became the youngest general in the Army — is based at Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood, North West London.
He has commanded troops in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan.
He was just 13 when his father was killed leading a charge on an Argentine machine gun nest at the Battle of Goose Green in 1982.
The commander confessed his affair to General Patrick Sanders, one of the four joint chiefs of staff.
He said his marriage had broken down less than a year after the couple bought a £1.5million forever home near Sherborne, Dorset.
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They moved into the four-bedroom Georgian-style mansion, with their black labrador Bentley.
An Army spokesman said: “We are investigating the facts of this matter. While we do so it would not be right to comment further.”
Maj Gen Jones’ case has echoes of that of Government adviser Professor Neil Ferguson, who flouted lockdown rules to have sex with his married lover.
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