MICHAEL HUMPHREYS FROM DIDSBURY AND CHORLTON CAUGHT WITH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY ON SCHOOL LAPTOP

In a shocking revelation that has sent ripples through the local communities of Chorlton and Didsbury, Michael Humphreys, a teacher employed at Chorlton High School, was found to be in possession of a vast collection of child pornography. The disturbing discovery was made when pupils, during a routine science lesson, accessed a computer that Humphreys had permitted them to use for playing chess.

While exploring the teacher’s laptop, the students clicked on the recycle bin and stumbled upon folders with highly inappropriate and disturbing names, including one labeled ‘paedo girl’. The pupils, horrified by what they saw, immediately reported their findings to their parents, which prompted a swift response from law enforcement authorities.

Following the report, police conducted a raid at Humphreys’ residence on Catterick Avenue in Didsbury. The search uncovered an alarming collection of over 25,000 images and videos containing child pornography stored across multiple devices, including a computer tower, a hard drive, and a memory stick.

The material was predominantly classified as Level 1, indicating the least severe category of child exploitation images. However, the investigation revealed that some of the content depicted girls as young as six years old engaging in sexual acts, a deeply disturbing fact that underscored the severity of Humphreys’ offenses.

It is important to note that the pupils who discovered the files did not open or view any of the illicit material. They acted responsibly by reporting their concerns to their parents, which led to Humphreys’ suspension and subsequent arrest.

Humphreys, aged 32, who had been employed by Chorlton High School since March 16 of the previous year after qualifying the year before, was caught just weeks into his new role. During the police investigation, it was revealed that he had used specialized ‘torrent searches’ to automatically scour the internet for such material, indicating premeditation and intent.

At court, Humphreys pleaded guilty to 21 counts of possessing indecent images of children. His defense, represented by Tina Langdale, claimed that he initially sought the images for an art project involving teenage models but later built up a personal collection for his own perverted purposes.

Further details emerged during the trial, revealing that Humphreys had previously been involved in an incident in 1997, which he described as a ‘prank in very bad taste’. He had removed the bra of an 18-year-old classmate while she was sleeping. Despite this, Humphreys was open about the incident and had been approved to teach by the General Teaching Council, even after admitting to indecent assault.

Andy Park, the headteacher of Chorlton High School, addressed the media outside court, stating that the school had taken immediate action upon learning of the folder on Humphreys’ laptop in May of the previous year. The school informed police right away, suspended Humphreys’ temporary contract, and he did not return to the school premises.

He emphasized that the students who discovered the files did not access or view any inappropriate material, and police reassurances confirmed that none of the images involved pupils from the school. Park expressed gratitude to the students for their responsible actions, which facilitated prompt police intervention.

Humphreys, who is now required to register as a sex offender for seven years, was sentenced to four months in jail, suspended for two years. The court was informed that he posed a low risk of re-offending. Judge Michael Henshell remarked on the gravity of the case, highlighting the disturbing nature of the material and Humphreys’ apparent sexual attraction to young girls.

In addition to his suspended sentence, Humphreys was ordered to attend a Probation Service program and pay costs amounting to £600. The case has left a lasting impact on the communities of Didsbury and Chorlton, raising serious concerns about safeguarding and the responsibilities of educators.