FORMER COUNCILLOR ADRIAN HUGHES JAILED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES
A former Dudley councillor has been jailed for 32 months after he admitted four sexual offences involving children.Adrian Hughes, aged 36, from Marsh Lane, Preston, was caught by a police sting operation online where officers impersonated two girls, one aged 12 the other 13.
Despite the offences involving no real victims, at his sentencing on April 24 the judge at Preston Crown Court told Hughes he did not know his lewd messages were not being seen by real victims.
Hughes had previously pleaded guilty to attempting to initiate non-penetrative sexual activity with a girl under 13 and a similar charge relating to a girl aged 13 to 15.
He also admitted charges of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child aged under 13 and with a child aged 13 to 15.
The offences took place during May and June 2025 when law enforcement officers created the characters of Lucy, aged 13, and Molly, aged 12, on the online platforms IB and Kick.
Despite ‘Lucy’ telling Hughes she was 13 he asked for pictures of her, said she had an ‘amazing body’ and sent her sexually explicit messages.
Hughes then started a chat with ‘Molly’ and again asked for pictures, officers sent a fake image of a fully-clothed girl and Hughes responded by asking her to remove her hoodie.
He said she was too young for him and broke off contact but then messaged her again on six more occasions.
After talking about ‘grown ups’ having sex Hughes sent ‘Molly’ images of him in his underwear and of his genitals.
Eventually police identified Hughes and he was arrested on June 23, 2025.
The court heard Hughes was a Labour councillor in Dudley from 2022 until 2024, and the offending occurred within a short period while he was suffering mental health problems.
Hughes was self-medicating with cocaine, cannabis, and alcohol during the offending but has since ceased drug use and drinking.
He showed remorse for his actions, had not re-offended, and the court noted his good character prior to these offences.
Recorder Siddiqi sentenced Hughes to 32 months in jail for attempting to incite a child into sexual activity, with terms of 12, 15, and 12 months for the other three offences to run concurrently.
Hughes was given credit for admitting his crimes early but was also told he tried to conceal evidence by deleting chats from his phone, which was an aggravating factor.
He was also subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and ordered to inform police of his address and any changes for an indefinite period.
