Former councillor admits grooming girl aged 12

A former Dudley councillor who sat on the council’s Children’s Services Select Committee has admitted grooming 13 and 12-year-old girls for sex.

Adrian Hughes, who was elected for the Labour Party to the Upper Gornal and Woodsetton ward in 2022, appeared at Preston Magistrates’ Court on March 13 where he pleaded guilty to three charges.

Hughes, aged 36 of Marsh Lane, Preston, admitted in May 2025 communicating with a 13-year-old girl, discussing meeting up with her and touching her sexually and saying he would teach her about sex.  

He further admitted, in the same month, attempting to incite a 13-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity.

Hughes also pleaded guilty to asking a 12-year-old girl to meet and engage in sexual activity and sending her a nude picture of himself.

Hughes was suspended from the Labour Party in October 2023 following an undisclosed complaint about his behaviour which was the subject of a party investigation.

Despite relocating the north of England, Hughes said at the time he would continue to serve as an independent member of Dudley Council.

As a member of Dudley Council he sat on the Children’s Services Select Committee and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee from May to September 2023.

He was a member of the Children and Young Person’s Scrutiny Committee from May 2022 to May 2023 and also the Children’s Corporate Parenting Board from May 2022 to May 2023.

He was thrown out of the authority in May 2024 after failing to attend any council meetings for six months.

The former councillor is scheduled to be sentenced at Preston Crown Court on April 24.