In 2019, the Offender Database reported that Tomos Humphereys, then 64, of Kents Road, Haywards Heath, was sentenced at Worthing Magistrates’ Court. The retired deputy head teacher was snared by an undercover operative in an online chatroom, leading to his conviction for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.
The court heard that Humphereys, a father of two with a lengthy career in education that began in 1990, claimed he initially joined the chatrooms to “research” what young people discuss. However, his defence solicitor admitted that this curiosity led to a “slow and slippery slope” into criminal behaviour. Humphereys eventually moved beyond observation to active, illegal communication with a persona he believed to be a child. During the investigation, authorities also discovered that he had been involved in making indecent photographs of a child, resulting in two additional charges.
Humphereys’ legal representative, Christopher Maynard, emphasised that the defendant had served decades in the education sector—including roles in “difficult and challenging schools”—without any prior allegations of impropriety. Since his arrest, Humphereys had reportedly been seeking help from a psychotherapist. Despite this, District Judge Amanda Kelly highlighted the gravity of the breach of trust, noting that as a former educator, Humphereys was a person specifically tasked with protecting young people from the very offending he committed.
For the offences of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and two counts of making indecent photographs of a child, Tomos Humphereys was handed a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. The judge indicated that while the crimes were serious, she believed there was a “real possibility” for his rehabilitation.
In addition to his suspended sentence, Humphereys was ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid work and attend mandatory rehabilitation activity days. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register and is subject to strict notification requirements. As a former teacher and deputy head, he is also subject to a lifetime ban from working in any regulated activity involving children or vulnerable adults.
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