Former oil industry boss Robert Hughes jailed for child abuse

FORMER OIL INDUSTRY BOSS ROBERT HUGHES JAILED FOR CHILD ABUSE

A pensioner has been jailed for sexually abusing four young girls more than 20 years ago.

Robert Hughes, who for many years was a senior operations manager at an oil refinery in Pembrokeshire, sexually touched the girls both over and under their clothes on multiple occasions.

All his victims were aged under 13 with the youngest being five.

A judge at Swansea Crown Court said 74-year-old Hughes had held a responsible job and had an "outward cloak of respectability" which "disguised" the fact he was a paedophile.

The court was told that the offending came to light in 2022 after one victim reported it.

The police investigation uncovered three more victims.

Hughes denied all allegations, claiming they were made up.

Victims, now women in their 20s and 30s, shared impact statements describing feelings of guilt, burden, anxiety, depression, and long-term suffering caused by Hughes.

Hughes was previously convicted at trial of nine counts of indecent assault of a child and has no prior convictions.

His legal team argued the offences happened many years ago and he had lived a productive life since, though the court noted his "spectacular fall from grace".

He was sentenced to eight years in prison, with half to be served in custody and the remainder on licence.

Hughes will be a lifelong registered sex offender.

The judge expressed hope that the sentences would help victims find some measure of peace.