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Westhoughton Pentecostal Church youth leader Michael Higson jailed for sexually abusing 2 young girls
By Joanne Rowe
A CHURCH youth leader who sexually abused two young girls has been jailed for eight years. Michael Higson began abusing his first victim when she was just 14 years old, persuading her to undress for him over a webcam and taking her to his work office in Bolton for sex. Bolton Crown Court heard how 33-year-old Higson’s distorted thinking led him to believe he was in a relationship with the girl. But when she ended the secret relationship after six years, he turned his attentions to a second 14-year-old girl. Karen Brooks, prosecuting, told the court how Higson’s offending only came to light in February this year when the girl’s mother spotted a text message from him on her daughter’s phone reading “Night ... I love you x.” Higson’s pastor at Westhoughton Pentecostal Church was contacted and, following a meeting, he admitted having abused the two girls. The court was told that Higson had served as a youth leader at the Pentecostal church and, prior to that, at Horwich Christian Fellowship. Mrs Brooks told how the role involved offering spiritual and practical support to families, but in 2009 the church carried out an investigation after there was an allegation of him behaving inappropriately. He was subsequently cleared of wrongdoing. His abuse of his first victim began later, with him starting to chat to her over an online messaging service and persuading her to undress in front of a webcam. He would collect her from her school bus stop and take her home or to his office where they would have sex. “He told her he liked her to wear school uniform,” said Mrs Brooks. “No one was aware of the situation, including her parents.” The pair kept the relationship secret, but Mrs Brooks said Higson, who ran a website development business, tried to control her life, taking her to activities and even keeping photographs of her friends on his laptop. Eventually the girl decided to end her involvement with Higson. “As far as she was concerned his paranoia, jealousy and constant checking on her movements became too much,” said Mrs Brooks. But within weeks Higson turned his attention to another 14-year-old girl, asking her to send him a photograph of herself and then taking her to his office where they would undress and engage in sexual activity. Following his arrest in February this year Higson, of Winslow Road, Hunger Hill, pleaded guilty to eight specimen counts of sexual activity. The court heard that the girls and their family members had suffered emotional harm and are having counselling because of Higson’s crimes. Timothy Brennand, defending said: “He has got to accept that his actions were corrupting, corrosive and divisive. “There is no getting away from the fact that there is an element of predatory behaviour.”
But he stressed that Higson had not believed he was abusing the girls. He described Higson, who has no previous convictions, as having a profound Christian faith and who, genuinely ashamed and remorseful, has been praying for death.
“He has not just lost his name and reputation, but his home and what he held dear,” said Mr Brennand, who added that previously Higson has been involved in charity work in Albania and has helped out at a soup kitchen. “I am prepared to accept that, to his distorted thinking, this was not sexual abuse when, of course, it was,” said the judge. He told Higson that he will have to live with what he has done for the rest of his life, but his actions have also had a “profound” effect on his victims and their relatives. Speaking after the sentencing a victim’s father said: “Justice has been done, but the sentence is nothing compared to what the girls are going through.” Martin Speed, pastor of Westhoughton Pentecostal Church said immediately the allegations were made about Higson he was removed as a deacon and from his other roles within the church. “We would like to extend our sympathy, love and prayers to everyone impacted by this awful situation and want to assure all affected and interested parties that we are committed to good safeguarding practice,” said Mr Speed. “Michael Higson pleaded guilty to the charges before him and we are glad that he has made a confession of charges and recognised the need to take responsibility for his actions and the consequences of these. “We can confirm that he is not currently in any position or role of responsibility within the church and has not had a role with young people since 2009. “We have co-operated fully with the police.”
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