DEAN HUMPHRIES CAUGHT IN BILSTON ONLINE PREDATOR STING

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Bilston, a 39-year-old man named Dean Humphries was apprehended after attempting to engage in a sexual encounter with what he believed to be a 13-year-old girl. The incident unfolded in April 2019 when Humphries was lured into a trap set by the vigilant paedophile hunters known as 'Godiva Hunters'.

Authorities revealed that the group had created a fake profile on the Oasis dating website, a platform primarily intended for adults over the age of 18. The profile prominently displayed a photograph of a 13-year-old girl, and the individual behind the profile made it explicitly clear that the girl was only 13 years old. Despite this, Humphries, who was unaware that he was speaking to a decoy, expressed his interest in pursuing a sexual relationship with the girl, stating that he was excited by the prospect of having sex with a young virgin.

The prosecution, led by Mr. Neil Ahuja, explained that Humphries had arranged to meet the girl near a McDonald's restaurant in Bilston on April 6. However, instead of meeting a minor, Humphries was met by members of the paedophile hunting group who had been monitoring the situation. When confronted, Humphries attempted to flee the scene but was quickly detained by the hunters until police arrived to make the arrest.

Humphries, who resides on Dawson Square, had a criminal record comprising 11 previous convictions. Notably, none of these prior convictions involved sexual offences. Nevertheless, he faced serious charges for attempting to meet a minor for sex after grooming her online. During the court proceedings, Humphries pleaded guilty to the charges.

He was sentenced to 15 months in prison, but the sentence was suspended for two years, meaning he would not serve time unless he committed another offence within that period. As part of his sentence, Humphries is required to complete a sex offender rehabilitation programme. Additionally, he has been placed on the sex offender register for ten years and is subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the same duration.

Judge Dean Kershaw addressed Humphries directly, expressing a cautious optimism about his potential for rehabilitation. The judge stated, “I believe there is a realistic opportunity of you being rehabilitated,” emphasizing the importance of the rehabilitation process in his ongoing punishment and monitoring.