John Humphreys, 59, Jailed for 21 Years for Historic Sexual Offences

John Humphreys, the former Mayor of Exmouth from 2010 to 2012, has been sentenced to 21 years imprisonment for historic sexual offences against two boys.

A jury found Humphreys guilty earlier this week of sexually assaulting one boy aged 12 to 13 between 1990 and 1991, and a separate victim in the late 1990s who was aged 14 to 15.

Humphreys first met the younger victim at a public toilet in Exmouth, before abusing him at addresses in the town and in a shelter near Woodbury Common. The second victim was abused while he was on work experience at Humphreys' home address.

Both victims reported the incidents separately almost a decade apart.

Jill Macnamara of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) stated: "This case demonstrates that we do not hesitate to prosecute perpetrators of sexual abuse where there is sufficient evidence, regardless of how long ago the crimes were committed. It takes courage to come forward as an adult to report what happened to you as a child, especially where the offender has held a position of power within the local community."

"The victims have shown a great deal of strength and bravery to step forward to report the incident and support the prosecution. I would like to thank them for their resilience."

Police Sergeant Angela Galasso of Devon and Cornwall Police said: "This has been a long and protracted investigation involving historic sexual offences that occurred more than 25 years ago during the early and late 1990s."

"The sentencing today shows that nobody is above the law, regardless of their standing in the community. I can only thank the complainants in this case for their tenacity, patience, and the trust that they have continued to place in myself and colleagues investigating these matters."

Both victims have voiced separately that they feared they would never be believed or that their complaints would be taken seriously. Sergeant Galasso expressed her hope that the guilty verdict will provide validation and allow them to move on with their lives.