Man who sent sex texts to girl, 13, sentenced

Michael Hughes, 32, from Leigh encouraged the youngster to perform a sexual act, a Bolton Crown Court judge heard.

The hearing was told that Hughes initially sent messages to three girls, all under the age of 18, using Facebook Messenger.

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 just 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.

Hughes had already pleaded guilty to inciting the teenager to engage in sexual activity when he appeared before Wigan and Leigh magistrates last month and they committed him to crown court for sentencing.

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

The hearing was told that 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.

The judge not only imposed the community order but also ordered him to sign on the Sex Offenders’ Register for seven years.