A Connah’s Quay paedophile, Matthew Hughes, who consistently violated a court order is now incarcerated. Matthew Hughes neglected to inform the police of his residence, constituting his third violation of the injunction.
Mould Crown Court today learnt that Matthew Hughes, 38, of Lower Brooks Street, Connah’s Quay, acknowledged his failure to adhere to a notice obligation by not informing the police of his residence when he appeared at Chester Magistrates Court on September 7 of this year. The court determined that this also constituted a violation of Matthew Hughes’ suspended sentence from July 2023, which involved an eight-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years.
Prosecutor William Griffin stated that Matthew Hughes was obligated to comply with a notification obligation indefinitely, subsequent to his conviction for engaging in sexual conduct with a minor in November 2008. Matthew Hughes had resided with his partner and children at her residence in Ellesmere Port on multiple occasions but did not inform the police.
The woman ultimately informed the authorities that she had been dishonest during their visit, admitting that Matthew Hughes had been present and asserting that he had warned her to be silent about the incident. Matthew Hughes had four convictions for thirteen violations, including prior noncompliance with notice requirements in 2021 and 2023.
Defending, Euros Jones said Matthew Hughes disputed some of the allegations and Judge Niclas Parry said he would not sentence on the basis of claims that he had threatened her. “There was an element of burying his head in the sand and wanting to continue with a normal family, when this cannot happen at this time,” said Mr Jones.
Matthew Hughes has been addressing his mental health difficulties on a voluntary basis and was concerned about his elderly mum, who he acted as a carer for. Judge Parry said: “You have tied the courts hands this time.
“Every effort has been made by the courts and those trying to help you with the terms of your supervision, but you have thrown it all back in the faces of everybody by repeatedly breaching an order, that was made to protect children.” He said it was a third breach, committed while under licenced supervision, on a suspended sentenced, for an identical offence, but accepted there was another side to his character.
Hughes was sentenced to just 16 months, with half in custody and half on licence.
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