A 36-YEAR-OLD man has been jailed for three-and-a-half years after a court heard how he sexually assaulted two girls.
Steven Richard Hughes, of Llys Enfys, Gwernymynydd, near Mold, admitted sexually assaulting one girl, and two counts of sexual activity with another girl, after he had given both alcohol.
The offences took place some years apart and Mold Crown Court heard how one of his victims later wrote a number of suicide notes to various people and was contemplating killing herself.
She even wrote to a member of Hughes’ family to apologise for what she had done when the court heard it was clearly his responsibility.
Hughes was also placed on the sex offender register for life.
A Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) was made under which he must not give girls under 16 alcohol, and he must not be alone in any house with a girl under 16 unless she is supervised by a parent or appropriate adult.
Judge Niclas Parry said the disparity of age was substantial – one was nine who was touched on one occasion over her clothing and the second was aged 15 who he touched indecently and got to perform a sex act on him.
Judge Parry said the nine-year-old had been given vodka and the other girl had been under the influence of alcohol when he initiated sexual acts with her.
There was no suggestion of any force and no threats had been made before or after.
He would receive the maximum credit for his guilty pleas. Hughes was a man of good character who people spoke highly of.
Judge Parry said he also took into account the strong mitigation in his case after being told that Hughes still suffered the effects of a heart attack when he was younger and that one of his children was now seriously ill.
Three other charges, which he denied, were allowed to remain on the file.
Kim Halsall, prosecuting, said the youngest victim told how the defendant gave her vodka. He touched her over her clothing and walked off laughing.
The older girl told how the defendant, who had given her drink, touched her indecently and got her to perform a sex act upon him.
Phillip Tully, defending, said Hughes had no previous convictions.
He was full of remorse and shame for what he had done, he had no explanation to put forward, and was concerned the effect his prison sentence would have on his family. One of his children was ill and his partner would have to face that alone.
Both offences had been committed when he was in drink and that was an issue he would have to consider for the future, said Mr Tully.