A POWYS man who has shown an “unhealthy progression” in his sexual offending has been jailed for two years.
Eifion Humphries, 32, had been spared a prison sentence in August 2023 after appearing at Swansea Crown Court in relation to making and possessing indecent images of children.
However, when police officers made an unannounced visit to his Newtown home in August of this year, they discovered a deleted folder on his phone that included images of naked girls aged eight to 10 years old.
Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard on Monday, September 23, that Humphries told police the reason he kept the images on his phone was so he could distribute them to other people.
Humphries entered guilty pleas to five charges at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on August 24. These included three offences of making 153 indecent images of children. Humphries was found in possession of 41 Category A images (the most serious); 40 Category B and 72 in Category C.
He also admitted twice breaching a sexual harm prevention order he received from Swansea Crown Court in August 2023. The court heard he breached the order by using ‘incognito’ mode on his phone, as well as deleting the ‘Telegram’ messaging app.
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Prosecutor Matthew Murphy said Humphries was “acting suspiciously” when officers made the surprise visit to his address on August 22.
“He took his phone off charge and went to the toilet immediately,” said Mr Murphy.
“When he came back it was investigated."
He added: "There was a deleted folder that included images of females aged eight to 10, and a video.
“He was arrested and at Brecon Police Station he admitted using a chat room via incognito mode, which was a breach. He said he was bored and used it to speak to people.
“He said people sent him images which he did not ask for. His reason for keeping the images was so he could distribute to others.”
Mr Murphy said Humphries had two previous convictions, one for exposing himself, dating back to 2007, and the similar offence from a year ago, for which he received a 24-month community order.
Representing him, Sol Hartley said Humphries knew there was no alternative to custody, where his client has been since his arrest.
“He has asked me to say he is very sorry, he accepts he needs help and recognises he has a problem,” said Mr Hartley.
“He feels like he needs to be in prison. The help he was receiving in the community was not working. He admits he is not ready to be back on the streets.
“He describes this as a cry for help. He knew there was no realistic hope of avoiding detection, he knew his phone would be checked.
“He wanted to be taken away as he didn’t think he could do it himself.”
Mr Hartley added: “There has been a significant community response to him being a registered sex offender. He has lived in almost constant fear.
“There has been a significant time gap between 2007 and his recent offending period.
“He had a long term partner for 10 years. The breakdown of that relationship led to him offending. He hasn’t been able to put his life back on stable footing.
“He was also subject to physical and emotional abuse when he was 6, and was placed in the care of the local authority.”
Judge Jeremy Jenkins told Humphries: “There is clear evidence you have progressed from your earlier offending.
“You are on a very dangerous curve and this is an unhealthy and worrying progression.”
For breaching the sexual harm prevention order Humphries was jailed for 12 months. A consecutive term of 12 months was ordered for breaching the community order.
Six months will be served concurrently for each of the making indecent images charges – making a total period in prison of two years.
Humphries will also be made subject of a new sexual harm prevention order for 10 years and will also register as a sex offender for the same period.
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