NIALL HUGHES FROM FAZAKERLEY SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX ATTACKS ON 4 AND 5-YEAR-OLD BOY

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Fazakerley, Niall Hughes, aged 34, has been sentenced to an indefinite prison term for the sexual assaults committed against a young boy when he was just four and five years old. The incidents, which took place in Hughes’s residence on Longmoor Lane, have left a lasting scar on the victim and have prompted a stern judicial response.

During the sentencing hearing at Liverpool Crown Court, Judge David Harris QC expressed his firm belief that Hughes continues to pose a significant danger to children. Despite Hughes’s persistent denial of the charges, the judge emphasized that the evidence was compelling enough to warrant a serious custodial sentence. He warned Hughes that unless he accepts responsibility and commits to rehabilitation, he would not be deemed safe for release into the community in the foreseeable future.

Judge Harris described the nature of the crimes as a gross violation of trust, highlighting that Hughes’s actions were driven by his own sexual gratification at the expense of a vulnerable child. The judge recounted a particularly distressing moment from the victim’s life, when, at the age of six, the boy asked his mother if he could kill himself. This question arose after the boy was subjected to the abuse, and his mother responded with sensitivity and care. The child confided that he wanted to end his life because of “the horrible things he did to me,” illustrating the profound psychological damage inflicted.

The court ordered Hughes to serve a minimum of seven and a half years in prison. The judge also noted that the young boy, described as a “delightful and well-behaved” child, had been severely affected by the abuse. Evidence presented during the trial included two recorded interviews with the boy, then aged five, which were played to the jury. In these recordings, the boy expressed feelings of sadness and pain, stating that the attacks made him “hurted me.” He recounted being in the bathroom of Hughes’s flat when the defendant entered and raped him, as well as an earlier incident where Hughes, an acquaintance of the boy’s father, woke him in the night to sexually abuse him.

Hughes’s defense, which claimed innocence and denied the charges of assault by penetration and rape, was ultimately rejected by the jury on February 2. The verdict marked a significant moment in the case, bringing justice for the young victim and his family.

Following the sentencing, the boy’s mother expressed her relief and satisfaction with the outcome. She described the past year as “horrendous” and noted that the legal process had been prolonged, taking an entire year to reach this point. She also praised the police for their “amazing” support and care for her son throughout the investigation and trial.

Psychological assessments of Hughes revealed that he was an isolated individual who struggled to cope with stress, which may have contributed to his offending behavior. As part of his sentence, Hughes was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and was subjected to an indefinite sexual offenders prevention order, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to protect the community from further harm.