STACEY HUGHES GOLBORNE SEX OFFENDER JAILED AFTER PREDATORY ATTACK NEAR WIGAN

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Golborne and the surrounding Wigan area, Stacey Hughes, a 36-year-old man from The Poplars on Church Street in Golborne, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for his involvement in a sexual assault targeting an 11-year-old girl. Hughes had previously pleaded guilty at Liverpool Crown Court on June 4 to charges of inciting a girl under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity, a crime that has garnered significant attention from local residents and law enforcement alike.

The incident in question occurred on the afternoon of August 2 of the previous year, around 2:50 pm. The young victim, an 11-year-old girl, was out in the area searching for her friend's lost cat. As she was walking along Bickershaw Lane in Bickershaw, heading towards Wigan Road, she crossed an old railway line that runs through the area. During her walk, she noticed a silver Land Rover-type vehicle that had mounted the kerb nearby and come to a stop close to her.

According to reports, the driver of the vehicle, later identified as Stacey Hughes, approached the girl and asked her for directions to Golborne. The girl responded by suggesting that he could find better directions at some local shops nearby. It was at this moment that she observed Hughes exposing his penis while sitting in the driver’s seat of the vehicle, an act that immediately raised alarm bells.

Hughes then proceeded to ask the young girl inappropriate and suggestive questions, further escalating the situation. He then made a disturbing request for her to get into his car. Fearing that Hughes might attempt to physically grab her or open the car door, the girl, terrified, quickly walked away from the scene. Hughes then drove off in the vehicle towards Platt Bridge, leaving the girl shaken but unharmed.

Following the incident, the girl’s family took swift action by posting a warning message on Facebook, alerting other residents in the area to be vigilant and watch out for the man involved. Their proactive approach proved crucial in the subsequent investigation. A bus driver, who had earlier observed the girl talking to the driver of a Nissan Navara and found the situation suspicious, took note of the vehicle’s registration number. After seeing the Facebook post, the bus driver immediately contacted the police, providing vital information that led to Hughes’s arrest later that evening.

Detective Constable Sheena Maerevoet praised the community’s efforts, stating, “This is a fine example of the community working together to help us take a sex offender off the streets. While we always encourage victims and their families to call the police in the first instance, it is heartening to see the family taking a proactive step to warn others. The Facebook post, combined with the quick thinking of the bus driver, helped us catch Hughes before he could approach any other children. I also want to applaud the victim and her family for their bravery throughout this investigation.”

As part of his sentencing, Hughes was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for a period of ten years and was also given a ten-year sexual prevention order, underscoring the seriousness of his crimes and the ongoing efforts to protect children in the community of Golborne and Wigan.