JASON HUGHES FROM PWLLHELI SENTENCED FOR DECADES-OLD SEX OFFENCES IN NORTH WALES

In a significant case that has spanned many years, justice has finally been served for a woman who was sexually abused as a young girl by Jason Hughes, a man residing in Pwllheli, North Wales. The incident, which took place over two decades ago, has come to light only recently, leading to Hughes's conviction and sentencing in Mold Crown Court.

Jason Hughes, aged 43 and living at Ffordd Mela in Pwllheli, faced charges related to sexual offences committed when he was a teenager. Despite entering a plea of not guilty at the outset, Hughes was ultimately found guilty by a majority verdict of 10 to 2 on charges of indecent assault and engaging in indecency with a child. He was acquitted of a third charge brought against him.

Following the conviction, Judge Niclas Parry sentenced Hughes to three and a half years in prison. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender with the police for the remainder of his life. The court also imposed a lifetime sexual harm prevention order, which strictly prohibits Hughes from approaching the victim in any manner. Furthermore, he is barred from having any unsupervised contact with girls under the age of 16, except in unavoidable circumstances encountered in daily life, and only if he has obtained the consent of a parent or guardian who is fully aware of his offending history.

During the sentencing, Judge Parry addressed the court, describing the nature of the offences. He explained that the abuse occurred when Hughes was approximately 18 years old, and the victim was a very young girl. The judge detailed how Hughes isolated her and engaged in sexual acts, exploiting her innocence for his own gratification. The judge emphasized that the victim was an entirely innocent individual used by Hughes for his sexual pleasure, and that Hughes knew that if she was told not to tell anyone, she would listen, which he exploited.

Judge Parry also noted that, under current sentencing guidelines, the starting point for such offences would typically be around four years, with a range from three to eight years. Despite the severity of the crimes, the judge acknowledged that Hughes was a hardworking man of good character, with few prior convictions, and that the offences were isolated incidents from approximately 25 years ago, when Hughes himself was about 18.

Prosecuting barrister Anna Price revealed that the victim, now an adult woman, had come forward more recently to report the abuse she suffered as a child. Her decision to speak out led to Hughes's conviction, bringing long-overdue justice for her and highlighting the importance of reporting historical abuse cases.