TERRY HUGHES FROM FOLKESTONE AND STOWTING SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND ILLEGAL IMAGES

In a case that has spanned decades, Terry Hughes, a 62-year-old man originally from Stowting and with connections to Folkestone, has been convicted and sentenced for serious sexual offenses involving a child. The crimes, which date back more than 25 years, came to light after the victim, who had endured the abuse in the 1990s, found the courage to report her ordeal to the police in Folkestone.

Hughes, who was known to have a disturbing underwear fetish, was initially believed to have evaded justice for his actions during the 1990s. The victim recounted that Hughes had secretly groped her while her mother was sleeping in the same bed, an incident that she kept hidden for years. It was only after Hughes had befriended her family that she felt safe enough to disclose her traumatic experience to law enforcement authorities.

Following her report, police officers conducted a raid on Hughes’ residence in East Anglia. During the search, they uncovered disturbing evidence, including images stored on his computer depicting children in underwear. The authorities also found that Hughes had been actively searching for illegal child images just a day prior to his arrest, indicating ongoing interest in such material.

Hughes faced a jury at Canterbury Crown Court, where he was accused of multiple indecent assaults. Despite claiming that he did not have a sexual interest in children and that the images and online exchanges were merely fantasies, the jury rejected his defense. They convicted him on three counts of indecent assault and found him guilty of possessing illegal images. The court heard that 81 of the 89 images discovered on his computer were classified as the lowest level of illegal content, but still represented a serious breach of the law.

Judge Simon James sentenced Hughes to an initial six-year prison term, with a minimum of four years to be served before he could even consider applying for parole. Additionally, the judge ordered a two-year extension on license, which Hughes must serve upon his release. Prosecutor Christopher May highlighted that Hughes was actively engaged in online chats with women about sex involving children, further demonstrating his ongoing predatory behavior.

Hughes’ legal team, led by barrister John Fitzgerald, argued that Hughes was merely fantasizing during his internet conversations and that his interest in underwear was voyeuristic rather than predatory. However, the judge was unconvinced, emphasizing Hughes’ denial of his sexual interest in children and his complete lack of insight into the severity of his actions. Judge James expressed concern about the continued risk Hughes posed to children, especially given his denial and the nature of his online exchanges.

In addition to his prison sentence, Hughes was subjected to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which aims to restrict his access to children and prevent further offenses. Hughes denied the sex charges during the trial but was ultimately convicted of three indecent assaults and possession of illegal images, with a total of ten offenses admitted.

His case underscores the importance of vigilance and the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to bring offenders to justice, even when crimes date back many years. The community in Folkestone and Stowting can now be assured that Hughes has been held accountable for his actions, though concerns about his potential for reoffending remain.