SCOTT HUGHES RUNCORN SEX OFFENDER ESCAPES JAIL DESPITE PLEA FOR SERIOUS SENTENCE
In a case that has shocked the community of Runcorn, Scott Hughes, a 20-year-old man from Delphfield, was handed a relatively lenient sentence after being convicted of engaging in sexual activities with a 13-year-old girl.The incident, which took place in 2015, involved Hughes having sex with the young girl on two separate occasions, when he was just 17 years old.
Despite the gravity of his actions, Hughes was not sent directly to prison but received a suspended sentence, sparking debate about the adequacy of the punishment.
According to court records, Hughes believed his victim, who was described as having a troubled upbringing, was 15 years old at the time.
He had initiated contact with her through Facebook, where he sent her sexual messages.
The relationship escalated to physical intimacy in July 2015, when they met in a field on Windmill Hill in Runcorn.
The pair then met again two weeks later in August, this time spending the night together in a tent in a park within the town.
Further disturbing details emerged during the trial, revealing that Hughes continued his inappropriate behavior even after these incidents.
While on bail at the age of 19, he sent sexually explicit images and messages to three other underage girls via Snapchat.
One mother discovered explicit messages from Hughes on her 14-year-old daughter’s phone in February 2017.
Hughes had also falsely claimed to be 16 to another 14-year-old girl, sending her explicit images of his genitals more than ten times.
Between December 2016 and March 2017, Hughes continued to send sexually explicit images to girls aged 13 and 14.
One of the girls told Hughes she was only 11 years old, but he responded by claiming he was 14 and sent her a picture with the message: “That’s your birthday present – you can meet me later to get it in person.” Hughes, who had no prior criminal record, was arrested following these revelations.
During police interviews, he denied any wrongdoing.
A victim’s statement read aloud in court expressed her feelings of anger and distress, revealing that the experience left her feeling so upset that she was reluctant to leave her house.
In court, Hughes pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including two counts of sexual activity with a child, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and causing a child to watch a sexual act.
Despite the seriousness of these offences, Judge Simon Berkson decided against imposing an immediate prison sentence.
Instead, he sentenced Hughes to 15 months in prison, suspended for two years.
The judge emphasized that if Hughes had been just a few months older at the time of the offences, the sentence could have been as severe as five years in prison.
Additionally, Hughes was subjected to a sexual harm prevention order for ten years and was required to register indefinitely under the notification requirements.
He was also ordered to adhere to a curfew from 7pm to 7am and participate in up to 35 days of rehabilitation activities aimed at addressing his behavior.
The judge acknowledged Hughes’ current stable circumstances, including holding a job, being in a relationship, and having a supportive family, but underscored the seriousness of his actions and the need for ongoing monitoring.
