A mental health counsellor and Paedophile from Eltham, Steve Hughes, who groomed a 14-year-old girl online over six months has evaded incarceration.
Steve Hughes, 55, transmitted sexualised and grooming communications to the young girl after locating her on social media in November 2022.
In May 2023, he was challenged by paedophile hunters after realising he had spent the previous six months communicating using a decoy account.
Upon examination of his phone, it was disclosed that Steve Hughes had been communicating with three additional “girls,” all aged 13 or 14, who were also decoy accounts operated by other paedophile hunting outfits.
Steve Hughes, from Eltham Hill, said during the trial that he was aware from the outset that these were “scam” accounts and that he did not sincerely believe he was conversing with teenage girls.
A jury unanimously dismissed Steve Hughes’ defence lies and convicted him on four counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor.
On Monday, August 18, Steve Hughes received an 18-month custodial term, suspended for 18 months.
He will be subjected to a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, enabling authorities to oversee his online activities.
Before his imprisonment, Steve Hughes was a seasoned adult counsellor and psychotherapist practicing in Welling and subsequently in Eltham.
His website stated he successfully worked on issues relating to “sex and shame”.
Judge David Miller said: “Between October 2022 and May 2023 you sought out teenage girls to form digital relationships with.
“You found four girls, you engaged in chat with them on various social media sites and you soon turned the conversations sexual – there is an element of grooming , particularly regarding on girl who you were in communication with for six months.”
He told Steve Hughes that if these were actual children, rather than decoys, he would have received a considerably higher sentence and one which would not have been suspended.
“Having read the pre-sentence report and the character references, I’m suspending the sentence because I consider there’s a realistic chance of rehabilitation. I think you will comply with the order and won’t reoffend,” Judge Miller said.
Steve Hughes was ordered to pay £4,380 to cover the four-day Woolwich Crown Court trial he elected to have.
Steve Hughes will be offering his counselling services as normal.
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