Michael Hughes, a Medway Paedophile sexual predator who derived “a thrill” from exploiting teenage girls through graphic conversations on Facebook Messenger, has been incarcerated.
Michael Hughes solicited his three victims to engage in self-directed sexual behaviours and to transmit photos of these actions to him.
The 62-year-old also transmitted images of genitalia to the girls.
However, unbeknownst to the perpetrator, he was actually engaging with internet paedophile hunters who had established bogus ‘decoy’ profiles as part of an operation.
After his arrest in June 2021, Michael Hughes openly admitted to the police that the discussions had provided him with a “sexual thrill.”
But he also claimed that he had been simply giving “sex education” to one of the victims, and had asked another about “d**k pics” because he wanted to warn her about online dangers.
Michael Hughes admitted multiple offences and appeared before Maidstone Crown Court for his sentencing hearing last Tuesday (October 29).
The offender, who was living in the Medway area at the time, groomed the three “girls”, purporting to be aged 11, 12 and 13, over a period of three months.
Maidstone Crown Court heard their ages were clearly stated from the outset of the chats with Michael Hughes.
His explicit messages included instructions on how to masturbate, telling the ‘girls’ to “think of my c**k” and “think of me touching you”.
Michael Hughes told another that she was “pretty and bright” before asking if she wanted “to chat about sex”, saying “We can be boyfriend and girlfriend on here”.
Bartholomew O’Toole, defending, told the court the offences were “borne out of fantasy and disenchantment” after his 20-year-long relationship with his partner “turned sour and distant”.
He also told the court that Michael Hughes had “succumbed to temptation” after answering messages that arrived in his inbox, adding that the victims were not ones “hunted down by a predator”.
But the lawyer said although the sex offender did not actually receive any indecent images or send images of his own penis, he did not “seek to demur” from his frank admissions made to police.
“He has expressed his shame, embarrassment and remorse,” added Mr O’Toole. “His words to his solicitor were ‘I very much regret this behaviour. I’m ashamed of myself for behaving in this way’.”
The court was also told that having been a boxing champion, Michael Hughes used his building skills to work hard all his life and provide for his family.
However, his arrest has left him living in a caravan “in a field or garden”, said the barrister, and he no longer has contact with them.
But Mr O’Toole said the three-year delay in Hughes’s case reaching its conclusion was not his fault.
Having been interviewed in June 2021, his first appearance before magistrates was not until April this year.
These are disgusting offences…
Michael Hughes then pleaded guilty to a total of eight offences relating to attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.
Jailing Michael Hughes for three years, Judge Gareth Branston told him custody was inevitable.
“These are disgusting offences. You were potentially preying on vulnerable, young children,” he said.
On his release, Michael Hughes will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years as well as indefinite sex offender notification requirements.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.