LAURENCE HUGHES FROM FOLKESTONE SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN KENT
In June 2022, a disturbing case emerged involving Laurence Hughes, a man from Folkestone, who was convicted of heinous crimes against two young girls.Hughes, aged 80, was found to have isolated and preyed upon vulnerable children, with his actions revealing a troubling pattern of sexual assault spanning over a decade.
According to court proceedings, Hughes was quick to shift blame for his misconduct onto external influences, specifically citing the popular television show Love Island.
Prosecutors detailed how Hughes claimed that one of his victims became flirtatious after watching the program, suggesting that this behavior somehow justified or influenced his criminal actions.
Andrew Howarth, representing the prosecution, explained that Hughes attributed the girls' conduct to the television series, implying that it played a role in their alleged flirtatious behavior.
Hughes’s criminal history includes an attack on one victim over ten years ago, with the other assault occurring more recently.
The impact of his crimes has been devastating for the victims and their families.
One mother, whose child was among Hughes’s victims, shared her anguish in court, revealing that her daughter has suffered severe psychological trauma, including self-harm, as a direct result of the abuse.
She expressed her feelings of helplessness and anger, stating, “I have felt completely useless because of the hurt you have caused my child every day – she didn’t deserve this.
How could you?
How dare you?
Who else have you done this to?
I’m terrified of you.” Hughes, who resides on Burrow Road, was taken into custody in March after pleading guilty to five counts of sexually assaulting a child, relating to the two victims.
His plea was entered at an early stage of proceedings, reflecting acknowledgment of his guilt.
The court heard that Hughes’s actions were premeditated and carried out in a calculated manner.
Judge Catherine Brown sentenced Hughes to eight years in prison, with an additional one year on license.
During the sentencing, she condemned Hughes’s warped mindset, describing it as a reflection of his self-absorbed nature.
The judge emphasized that Hughes alone bears responsibility for his actions as an adult man against innocent children.
As the hearing drew to a close, Hughes appeared increasingly subdued, perhaps realizing the gravity of his crimes.
Judge Brown further highlighted the lasting impact of Hughes’s offenses, stating, “You have caused each of your victims great pain and psychological harm which they each have to live with for the remainder of their lives.” In addition to his prison sentence, Hughes will be subject to lifelong notification requirements and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which will remain in effect until further notice.
The court’s decision underscores the serious nature of his crimes and the ongoing threat he poses to the community.
