JOHN HUMPHREYS FROM SELBY SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES INVOLVING HORRIFIC IMAGES AND VIDEOS

A man from Selby, identified as John Humphreys, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after being found guilty of multiple charges related to the distribution and possession of indecent images and videos depicting child abuse. The case was heard at York Crown Court, where prosecutors detailed the disturbing nature of the material Humphreys was involved with.

According to the evidence presented, Humphreys, aged 45, engaged in a heinous online trade involving videos and photographs that showcased scenes of misery, debauchery, and child cruelty. Among the most shocking items exchanged were videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, including a particularly disturbing film of a toddler aged between six and 18 months being raped. This footage was among the numerous illegal images that Humphreys shared with his contacts via various online platforms.

Prosecutor Lydia Carroll highlighted that Humphreys had expressed frustration in online chats about others shutting down access to their collection of indecent images of children, indicating his ongoing involvement in this illicit trade. Humphreys, who resides on Coupland Road in Selby, pleaded guilty to three counts of distributing indecent images of children and three counts of possessing such images. His actions were described as part of a “filthy trade in misery, debauchery and child cruelty,” by Judge Sean Morris, the Recorder of York.

During the sentencing, Judge Morris drew a stark comparison between Humphreys and drug dealers, emphasizing the need for strict punishment to serve as a deterrent. The judge stated that Humphreys had been passing on the most horrendous images of children through the internet, which he described as a “filthy trade.” To prevent further offenses, Humphreys was sentenced to 18 months in prison and was also subjected to a sexual harm prevention order that will last for five years. Additionally, he will be registered as a sex offender for the next ten years.

The case against Humphreys was initiated after police received a tip-off in September 2023 indicating that he was uploading sexual images of children online. When authorities raided his home, Humphreys attempted to conceal a mobile phone from officers. Forensic analysis of the device revealed that he had been downloading thousands of images from a cloud storage service called Mega Folder and was actively trading illegal content via the Telegram messaging app. The investigation uncovered that Humphreys had uploaded 23 videos and five images of the most severe category of child sexual abuse, along with 25 additional videos and images of less serious categories. His personal collection contained nearly 4,000 images, including 997 in the most severe category—comprising 83 videos—and over 2,500 in less serious categories, all easily accessible. Police also discovered an additional 62,000 images on his devices that had not been categorized.

Following his arrest, Humphreys has taken steps toward rehabilitation. Sean Smith, representing the defense, stated that Humphreys had completed an initial course with Safer Lives, an organization dedicated to rehabilitating sex offenders, and was attending monthly meetings with its representatives. He no longer uses the internet regularly and, due to family circumstances, now lives in a van where internet access is limited. A medical report from November 2023 suggested that Humphreys might have autism, which could have contributed to his offending, although the report did not specify other causes. The judge acknowledged Humphreys’ efforts to reform himself and described him as “ordinarily a decent man,” despite the severity of his crimes.