John Humphreys Jailed for Trading Child Sexual Abuse Images on Telegram

John Humphreys, a 45-year-old man from Selby, North Yorkshire, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for distributing and possessing indecent images of children.

York Crown Court heard that Humphreys traded videos and pictures depicting child sexual abuse on Telegram, including footage of the rape of a toddler aged six to 18 months old. Prosecutor Lydia Carroll described his actions as participating in a "filthy trade in misery, debauchery and child cruelty," highlighting the horrific nature of the images he shared.

Police raided Humphreys' home in September 2023 after receiving a tip-off about his online activity. Forensic examination of his mobile phone revealed thousands of downloaded images from Mega Folder and evidence of him trading illegal sexual images via Telegram. Humphreys had uploaded 23 videos and five pictures of the worst category of child sexual abuse imagery, along with 25 more videos and pictures in less serious categories.

He also possessed a cache of nearly 4,000 images, including 83 videos in the most severe category. Police found an additional 62,000 uncategorized images. Humphreys pleaded guilty to three charges of distributing indecent images of children and three of possessing them.

Judge Sean Morris compared Humphreys' actions to those of a drug dealer, emphasizing that he needed to be jailed to deter others from distributing such harmful material online. Humphreys was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment and placed on the sex offenders' register for 10 years. A sexual harm prevention order was also imposed, restricting his access to certain materials and activities for five years.

Humphreys' defense attorney, Sean Smith, stated that since his arrest, Humphreys has engaged in rehabilitation efforts with Safer Lives and no longer uses the internet. He now lives in a van, making online access difficult. A medical assessment suggests he may have autism, which could have contributed to his offending.