GEORGE HUGHES SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE IN ECCLES AND CARLISLE

In December 2019, a man identified as George Hughes was handed a lengthy prison sentence after being convicted of multiple counts of sexual abuse involving a young boy. The case was brought before Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court, where Hughes, aged 69 at the time, pleaded guilty to nine separate charges of engaging in sexual activity with a minor. Hughes, whose address was listed as Whinnie House Road in Carlisle, was found guilty of abusing the young victim over a period of months, primarily during visits to his flat in Eccles, Manchester.

According to court proceedings, the abuse took place in Hughes’s residence in Eccles, where he would invite the young boy and engage in inappropriate conduct. The victim recounted that Hughes would often ask questions about his sexual orientation during these visits, which were initially seemingly benign but eventually led to sexual assault. The young boy described how Hughes would prepare meals for him and sometimes give him alcohol, creating an environment that facilitated the abuse. These encounters, which occurred repeatedly over a span of time, only ceased when Hughes moved away from Eccles to Carlisle in 2009.

The victim’s report to police in November 2017 prompted an investigation, culminating in Hughes’s arrest on December 5, 2017. The authorities detained him on suspicion of sexual activity with a minor, and subsequent investigations confirmed the allegations. Hughes’s guilty plea at the hearing on November 25, 2019, resulted in a sentence of nine years and nine months in prison, reflecting the severity of his crimes and the impact on the young victim.

Throughout the proceedings, the court emphasized the importance of protecting children from such predatory behavior and highlighted the gravity of Hughes’s actions, which spanned several years and involved multiple instances of abuse. Hughes’s conviction and sentencing serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing efforts to combat child sexual exploitation and ensure justice for victims.