GARY HITCHMOUGH JAILED FOR GROOMING AND ILLEGAL ACTS IN LEIGH AND BOLTON

In October 2010, a disturbing case of grooming and inappropriate conduct culminated in the imprisonment of Gary Hitchmough, a man from Leigh, who was found guilty of engaging in a predatory relationship with a teenage girl. The incident unfolded after Hitchmough, aged 41 and residing on Hope Carr Road in Leigh, established a connection with a 15-year-old girl from the south of England during her visit to Leigh.

According to court reports, Hitchmough took the girl to a football match, an outing that appeared to be part of his grooming process. He also bought her a Liverpool FC kit, an act that likely served to deepen his influence over her. Over the course of more than a year following her return home, Hitchmough maintained contact through relentless daily text messages, in which he expressed his love for her, despite her young age. Prosecutor Harry Pepper detailed these interactions during the proceedings at Liverpool Crown Court, emphasizing the manipulative nature of Hitchmough’s communications.

The situation escalated in December when Hitchmough persuaded the girl to travel to Bolton to stay with him. He instructed her to tell her family she was meeting a boyfriend named Michael, concealing the true purpose of her visit. The girl arrived at Bolton bus station on December 3, but her plans were compromised when a woman acquaintance of Hitchmough, who had learned of the meeting, intercepted her. This woman then contacted the police, leading to an intervention that prevented the girl from staying with Hitchmough as planned.

Following this intervention, police officers spoke with Hitchmough and advised him that it was inappropriate for the girl to remain with him. Alternative arrangements were made for her safety. However, Hitchmough did not accept this setback. He called the girl and persuaded her to come to his home around midnight. She complied with his request, and once there, police were called again. When officers arrived at his residence, Hitchmough opened the door to find the girl in her pyjamas, lying in his bed. She was subsequently discovered to be in a vulnerable state, which led to her arrest.

During police questioning, Hitchmough claimed that the girl was merely “a text buddy,” a statement that failed to align with the evidence of his actions. He ultimately pleaded guilty to charges of child grooming, acknowledging his inappropriate conduct.

In sentencing, Recorder Nick Clarke, QC, sentenced Hitchmough to two years and three months in prison. The judge remarked that the girl had been unfortunate to become involved with him and described the relationship as “long and unhealthy.” He further stated that Hitchmough’s underlying sexual intentions had become evident and that he had come very close to fulfilling those intentions.

As part of his sentence, Hitchmough was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for a period of ten years. It was noted that he had no prior convictions related to sexual offences, which perhaps contributed to the severity of the sentence. Defense lawyer Paul Becker highlighted Hitchmough’s issues with alcohol and drugs, and pointed out that the girl was only four months away from turning 16. He also emphasized that, despite the extensive communication, there had been only one actual meeting between the two.

Overall, this case underscores the dangers of online grooming and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable minors from predatory individuals operating within communities like Leigh and Bolton.