Man asked girl to perform sex act

Michael Hughes, 32, encouraged the youngster to perform a sexual act, Wigan And Leigh Magistrates’ Court heard.

Peter Bardsley, prosecuting said Hughes initially sent messages to three girls, all under the age of 18, using Facebook Messenger.

He said: “At first the messages asked them how they were doing and then they turned to a sexual nature.”

The messages continued with one of the girls, who was aged 13, and about a month after he first made contact, the messages became sexual.

He told the girl she had a nice figure and that he could imagine her being good at sex, the court was told.

Mr Bardsley said: “She said the messages started to get sexualised. He told her he liked her body.”

In one message he told her to try a sexual act because it would give them both pleasure, the court heard.

Mr Bardsley said the girl felt “uncomfortable” and did not respond.

The next day he sent a message to apologise and claimed a friend had sent it.

On another occasion he told her he had felt excited after seeing her at a public event and hugging her.

Hughes, of Melrose Avenue, Westleigh, sent messages to the girl for about a year, always late at night, the court heard.

But the girl decided to block his messages on Facebook and told her best friend and then the police about it.

When he was interviewed by police, Hughes said he was going through a bad time in his life and had been drinking.

Mr Bardsley said: “He said he was sorry, he can’t remember sending the messages but accepts he did.”

He pleaded guilty to intentionally causing or inciting a girl aged 13 to engage in sexual activity between January 1, 2014 and September 4, 2015.

Magistrates committed the case to Bolton Crown Court, where Hughes will appear for sentencing on Wednesday, May 17.

He was remanded on unconditional bail until that hearing.