‘Don’t tell anyone, it’s a secret

THE victims of abuser Ken Hughes have spoken of the trauma they’ve endured.

His offending began in 1966 in his early 20s when he sexually abused a seven-year-old boy he was babysitting while the boy’s mother was in hospital.

He told the crying child: “Don’t tell anyone, it’s a secret” and plied him with sweets and cash.

The abuse happened on six or seven times over four weeks and continued on several more occasions, including in Hughes’s bedroom while Hughes’s mother was downstairs unaware.

The boy was left feeling dirty and ashamed but feared it would destroy his mother if she found out. He now feels guilty that others could have been saved if he had come forward earlier.

The other victims all met Hughes through the football club, with some given part-time jobs.

The first known victim there suffered abuse several times a week from the age of 10 to 15 in the early 1980s when Hughes was in his late 30s.

He feared Hughes might kill him to prevent him revealing the crimes. Hughes told him if he went to the police he would be taken from his parents.

He has been profoundly affected, self-harming, making several suicide attempts and engaging in excessive scrubbing.

He said: “I believe he has ruined my life and made me what I am.”

The second victim was only nine and Hughes 46 when he forced himself on him. Another victim was abused daily. Most were alone but some were abused in pairs.

They were plied with cash, gifts, holidays, booze and cigarettes, with some missing school to spend time at the club.

Hughes would persuade boys to stay over at his flat at weekends or take them on trips out.

Known as “Uncle Ken”, he would play them pornographic films, get them drunk and coerce them into playing strip snooker. Some fell asleep only to awake to find Hughes abusing them.

One victim had to be treated in a psychiatric hospital, another would cry himself to sleep and one boy dived into a river to clean himself.

One victim on anti-depressants has flashbacks of the abuse and Hughes‚ voice. Hughes had told him “no-one will believe you” if he spoke out.

Another told police: “He has ruined my life. I rarely sleep well and have frequent nightmares, waking up with panic attacks.”


Fight for justice

ONE victim who endured appalling abuse is taking legal action and has urged others to step forward.

The 22-year-old is fighting for compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), and against Hughes directly, for the injuries he sustained.

He needs other victims or people who know Hughes to give information to help.

He started going to the club at the age of 14 in 2002 and would skip school to play pool and snooker there.

He said: “The abuse began just a couple of weeks after I started going in there. Ken Hughes came up to me and began to touch me — I didn’t know what to do. After this first time it happened on a daily basis, and the attacks soon got much worse.”

Hughes threatened there would be consequences if anyone was told.

The victim said: “I was afraid of what he was doing to me, but I was too scared to tell anyone. No-one ever dared say no.”

Last November, the young man,who still suffers panic attacks and struggles to sleep,plucked up the courage to tell police.

Legal expert Angela Dobbs, who is representing him, said: “My client is pleased with the outcome of the sentencing, but his own personal fight for justice is only beginning. It has taken a long time for this young man to find the strength to talk about what happened to him. We hope that the bravery he has shown in breaking his silence will inspire anyone who might be able to help to now come forward.

Anyone who can help is asked to contact Mrs Dobbs at Fentons Solicitors LLP on 0161-684 6643. All information will be treated in the strictest confidence.


Don’t suffer in silence

POLICE have urged sexual abuse victims not to suffer in silence.

Det Sgt Jason Byrne, from Oldham CID, said: “I completely understand the conflicting emotions you must be going through, but you have done nothing wrong — it is men like Hughes who are to blame and with your help we can stop people like him hurting anyone else.”

He added: “Hughes used his position of authority within the club and the community to gain the trust of innocent young boys, and then completely abused that and subjected these boys to a traumatic ordeal.

“Although his abuse continued for a sustained period of time, these boys found the courage in adulthood to come forward and thanks to their bravery, his crimes have finally caught up with him and he is where he belongs — in jail.

“Throughout this investigation we have worked closely with the club itself and I would also like to praise everyone involved for their help and professionalism during what has been an extremely difficult time.

“I want to stress that these were the actions of one man — no one else.

“We also worked very closely with Children’s Social Care at Oldham, who provided a dedicated social worker throughout the investigation to help all those affected.”

Anyone personally affected by the case should contact Oldham CID on 0161-856 8951. Victims of rape or sexual assault can contact police on 0161 872 5050, or 999 in an emergency, or St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Manchester, on 0161-276 6515.