Trial begins of ex Filey mayor David Hudghton, who denies sexually abusing two girls

The ex-Scarborough borough councillor, 78, appeared for trial at Doncaster Crown Court on Wednesday charged with 13 counts of abuse including eight counts of sexual assault and five counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 years of age to engage in sexual activity.

Hudghton, who served the borough and Filey Town Council for many years, is alleged to have abused the youngsters, who were very young, at two properties between October 2017 and December last year.

The jury heard that the married former mayor allegedly told one of the girls to keep the abuse “a secret”.

Prosecutor Richard Woolfall said that as well as sexually assaulting the girls, Hudghton also urged them to touch him on an intimate area.

In some instances, the girls would be on their own, but in others there would be other children present, added Mr Woolfall.

He said the girls had trusted Hudghton and probably didn’t understand what was happening to them at the time, but things came to a head in late December last year when they each told relatives about the alleged abuse.

The matter was reported to police and Social Services and Hudghton was brought in for questioning.

He told police the allegations were untrue and denied ever assaulting the girls or encouraging them to touch him.

Mr Woolfall said that Hudghton’s denials meant that “someone was telling wicked lies”.

“The Crown’s case is that these two children are so young that what they are saying is what happened,” he added.

“It is the Crown’s case that the defendant is trying to escape what he has done, both in terms of his reputation and in terms of (the punishment that would ensue if he were found guilty).”

Hudghton, of Wharfedale, Filey, is accused of sexually assaulting or intimately touching each girl on multiple occasions. He is also alleged to have repeatedly enticed both girls to touch him on an intimate part of his body, sometimes after sitting them on his knee.

It’s alleged that on at least one occasion, one of the girls told him to stop, which he did, and on another she allegedly ended up in tears.

One of the girls alleged that Hudghton had been “naughty” to her and that when she told him to stop touching her, he carried on regardless.

“She said she didn’t tell anyone (at the time) because (Hudghton) said it was a secret,” added Mr Woolfall.

One of the girls said she “didn’t want to tell anyone because I thought it was all my fault and I didn’t want to get anyone into trouble”.

Hudghton told police there was “no truth” to the girls’ allegations. He claims to not remember one of the alleged incidents because he had a bad memory.

The trial continues.