TREVER HUGHES FROM BOOTLE CAUGHT WITH MISSING 5-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN PARK

In September 2016, a disturbing incident unfolded in Bootle involving Trevor Hughes, a man with a troubling criminal history. Hughes, aged 66, was found in close proximity to a five-year-old girl who had gone missing from a local park. The situation escalated when the girl’s mother, in a state of panic, spotted Hughes emerging from behind a leisure centre and entering the park with her daughter.

Reacting swiftly, the mother shouted at Hughes and managed to retrieve her daughter, enlisting neighbors to assist in the frantic search that ensued after the child disappeared from the park. The community’s concern grew as the incident unfolded, raising fears about the safety of children in the area.

Further investigation revealed that Hughes, who resides on Knowsley Road in Bootle, had been approached by a neighbor who confronted him about his actions. Hughes claimed that he had bought the girl bubbles as a gift, citing that he had spoken to her previously and was aware she had recently celebrated a birthday. This explanation did little to allay suspicions, especially given Hughes’s criminal background.

It was disclosed that Hughes had previously served a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence in June 2013 for possessing indecent images of children and sexually assaulting a girl he had groomed. His current predicament was compounded by the fact that he was in breach of an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) that had been imposed on him at the time of his earlier conviction. The order explicitly prohibited him from being alone with children, and his presence with the girl in the park constituted a clear violation.

At Liverpool Crown Court, Judge Alan Conrad, QC, addressed the seriousness of the matter, stating, “It is every parent’s nightmare that their child playing will be grabbed by a sex offender and that is exactly what happened here.” Hughes was subsequently sentenced to 12 months in prison for breaching the order.

The girl’s mother provided an emotional impact statement, revealing that she remains haunted by the incident. She expressed her ongoing fear and anxiety, sharing that she now suffers from nightmares and frequently wakes up screaming, overwhelmed by the terrifying possibility of what could have happened to her daughter. The case highlights the ongoing risks posed by individuals with a history of sexual offenses and underscores the importance of strict enforcement of protective orders to safeguard vulnerable children.