JAMES MICHAEL DAVID WEBBER SENTENCED IN SELBY FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE AND EXTREME PORNOGRAPHY CRIMES

James Michael David Webber, a 39-year-old man residing on Hollygarth Lane in Beal, near Selby, has been handed a substantial prison sentence of 13 years following his conviction on multiple serious charges related to child sexual abuse and possession of extreme pornography. The court proceedings revealed that Webber was found guilty of seven distinct offenses, which included blackmail, inciting a child to engage in sexual activities on two separate occasions, and possessing indecent images of children across three different categories. Additionally, he was convicted of possessing extreme pornography, further highlighting the severity of his crimes.

According to court reports, the criminal activities began to surface in May 2020, when Webber manipulated and blackmailed a 12-year-old girl through the social media platform Snapchat. He coerced her into sending explicit images of herself, threatening to harm her family by claiming he could track her location. The young girl, whose bravery was commended by police, refused to send further images. As a result, Webber distributed the images to others, causing her significant psychological distress and mental health issues. Her courage in coming forward was instrumental in initiating the investigation that eventually led to his arrest.

During the police investigation, authorities seized electronic devices from Webber, which contained a disturbing collection of images. These included 97 Category A images, 149 Category B images, 144 Category C images, and four images classified as extreme pornography. Despite his arrest, Webber demonstrated a continued attempt to evade detection by trying to create new Snapchat accounts just before the police arrived at his residence. He even deleted the app as officers entered, showing a blatant disregard for the law and the victims involved.

Throughout the proceedings, Webber displayed no remorse for his actions. Digital forensic analysis played a crucial role in establishing his guilt, providing concrete evidence of his possession and distribution of illegal images. North Yorkshire Police officer, Detective Constable Jenna Hallewell, emphasized the importance of victims coming forward to help law enforcement combat online abuse against children. Her comments underscored the ongoing need for vigilance and support for victims of such heinous crimes, as authorities continue to work tirelessly to protect vulnerable individuals from predators like Webber.