ROBERT HUMBLE'S REPEATED OFFENSES IN GUISBOROUGH AND TEESSIDE: A HISTORY OF SEXUAL HARM AND FAILURE TO COMPLY

In May 2022, Robert Humble, a 72-year-old resident of Guisborough, faced serious legal repercussions once again as he appeared in court for failing to adhere to mandatory notifications related to his status as a sex offender. Humble, who has a long and troubling history of sexual offenses, was previously convicted in 2019 for causing or inciting a male under the age of 16 to engage in sexual activity, creating indecent images of children, and possessing prohibited images. His criminal record also includes a 2021 conviction after authorities uncovered files labeled 'naughty boys' on his laptop, which further underscored his ongoing violations of court orders and his failure to comply with the Sex Offender Register requirements.

Humble's latest court appearance took place at Teesside Magistrates’ Court, where he faced charges for neglecting to inform police about a new Visa Gold credit card, a requirement for individuals on the sex offender register. Despite his assertion during a police interview that he believed he had notified authorities about the card, it was later confirmed that he had not done so. The police had attended his residence in Beaufort Close, Guisborough, on January 18 of this year, to discuss unrelated alleged offenses. During the interview, officers found the credit card and questioned Humble about whether he had registered it with the authorities. His response was, “I’m sure I have,” but subsequent checks proved otherwise. Humble acknowledged that he had failed to register the card, which was a breach of his obligations.

Further scrutiny of Humble’s past revealed multiple breaches of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). In 2021, authorities examined his computer as part of the order’s enforcement, discovering two files named ‘naughty boys’ and ‘naughty boys 2’ in the recycling bin. Humble claimed he had deleted these files to distance himself from his previous identity as a ‘sexual predator’ and to avoid being associated with his past offenses. The court was informed that Humble had previously been jailed for two years and six months in 2019 for offenses including inciting a minor to engage in sexual activity and possessing indecent images of children.

During the hearing, Emma Atkinson, representing the prosecution, detailed how Humble’s computer was checked again in April this year. She explained that the files in question were found in the recycling bin, and Humble was arrested. His response was that it was “out of habit,” and he believed he had deleted the files. He further stated that he deleted them to avoid being identified as a ‘sexual predator.’ The court was also told that Humble had already breached the SHPO on three previous occasions in January, with authorities discovering additional devices such as a USB stick and a rewritable DVD in his cupboard, despite his claims that he only possessed a laptop and a phone.

Humble admitted to possessing these devices but claimed he was unaware they were in his home, asserting they would have been removed during earlier investigations. The prosecution accepted his plea after examining the devices, which showed that the last files stored on the USB stick dated back to 2014, and the phone had not been used since 2017. A review of his laptop by a supervising officer in March and April revealed concerns about items on his desktop, including the deleted files. When questioned about his breaches, Humble, who was then without a fixed address, admitted to four violations of his SHPO.

Judge Jonathan Carroll presided over the case, which was conducted via video link from HMP Northumberland. He emphasized the seriousness of Humble’s latest breach, describing it as a “conscious and deliberate” attempt to circumvent the restrictions imposed by the court. The judge acknowledged the unusual circumstances surrounding Humble’s repeated violations but highlighted that the most recent breach was particularly grave. As a result, Humble was sentenced to eight months in prison, marking a significant escalation in his ongoing legal troubles and underscoring the persistent challenges authorities face in monitoring and managing individuals with a history of sexual offenses in Guisborough and the wider Teesside area.