It could mean the alderman title being scrapped or updated to create greater transparency and accountability, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS). The Council will put on hold the remainder of the scrutiny recommendations (on the future of appointing alderman and alderwomen) pending the receipt and consideration of the independent report by the Cabinet. BBC South West. East Devon District Councillors have voted to commission an independent report to investigate the circumstances of how former Councillor John Humphreys was given the honour of being an alderman despite his arrest for sexually abusing two boys. Dont open this can of worms right now, was all that was said to me. Devon and Cornwall Police praised the two victims who came forward to report and give evidence against him. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. Humphreys, aged 59, of Hartley Road, Exmouth, is on trial at Exeter Crown Court accused of historic sex offences against two underage boys. Explain why that description does not 'rigidly designate' you in all possible scenarios. HP10 9TY. Exeter Crown Court heard the two boys came forward independently when they were adults. Axminster MP raises residents' concerns over poor performance of South West Water in parliament, Man arrested in Bideford over burglary as police swoop to town, Jaw-dropping Victorian gothic home is one of Plymouth's most extravagant properties, Station master arrested after dozens killed in Greece train crash, Survivors describe 'nightmarish seconds' as trains crashed, Rescuers search wreckage of deadly Greece train crash. Hawara: 'What happened was horrific and barbaric', The people who want you to believe the Ukraine war is fake, What we've learned from Alex Murdaugh murder trial. East Devon District Council's scrutiny committee has asked for a report into how honorary awards are administered. I will therefore be convening an Extraordinary General Meeting at 6pm on Tuesday, September 7, with the sole recommendation being that the honour is withdrawn forthwith. The Judge said Humphreys inflicted shocking acts of sexual violence on the same victim which culminated in raping the boy in a disused building on Woodbury Common. John Humphreys, 59, was found guilty of three counts of serious sexual assault and seven of indecent assault at Exeter Crown Court. Humphreys, aged 59, of Hartley Road, Exmouth, denied but was found guilty of three counts of a serious sexual assault (buggery) and two of indecent assault on the younger boy and five counts of. East Devon District Council (EDDC) convened an extraordinary meeting to remove the honour following Mr Humphreys' conviction at Exeter Crown Court last month. John Humphreys was the mayor of Exmouth from 2010 to 2012 and a councillor for 12 years. John Humphreys, 59, denies three counts of. The Council will decide which Civic functions and events it is appropriate to invite Honorary Aldermen to. He denied having any sexual contact with either boy, but was found guilty of all charges by majority verdicts after an eight-day trial. They met again in the same way twice and on the first occasion he . You targeted a particularly vulnerable victim. Judge Rose said Humphreys actions caused the male long-lasting psychological harm, lasting decades, The Judge said: These were shocking acts of sexual violence. contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. "I sincerely hope that this guilty verdict will now provide this validation and allow them to feel that they can move on with their lives.". Humphreys denied having any sexual contact with either boy, but was found guilty of all charges by majority verdicts after an eight-day trial. "Both victims have voiced separately that they feared they would never be believed or that their complaints would be taken seriously. VideoRescuers search wreckage of deadly Greece train crash, Blackpink lead top stars back on the road in Asia, 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks TikToker's trip, Ukraine war casts shadow over India's G20 ambitions, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. 2023 BBC. John Humphreys was an East Devon councillor for around 20 years, and at one point also mayor of Exmouth. A former mayor has appeared at Exeter Crown Court charged with the sexual assault of two boys. He has been released on bail and is due to appear for trial on 9 August. In May, East Devons chief executive Mark Williams confirmed in a memo to councillors that one of its officers attended two LADO meetings called by Devon County Council in 2016, the year Cllr Humphreys was arrested on suspicion of assaulting one boy. Exeter YMCA under threat in brutal new cuts plan, 'Amazing' 3,000 donation boosts Exmouth RNLI. Humphreys, of Hartley Road, Exmouth was also put on the sex offenders' register for life. Get the best stories about the things you love most curated by us and delivered to your inbox every day. Rescuers search wreckage of deadly Greece train crash. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. When Cllr Humphreys and former Journal reporter David tied the knot in front of family and friends it marked the first-ever same-sex marriage, both in Exmouth and East Devon. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. The meeting, which will be held virtually, will only provide an indicative decision, following the decision made by the council last month to change their standing orders to allow them to meet via Zoom again as a result of rising coronavirus rates in the district. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. It was a female police officer. Video, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. John Humphreys, 59, abused two boys - who were aged around 13 and 15 - in the 1990s. Judge Timothy Rose adjourned sentence to Friday to allow the victims time to update impact statements. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. John Humphries became mayor of Exmouth in 2010 A former town mayor has gone on trial accused of abusing two teenage boys in the 1990s and 2000s. Judge Rose said: You instructed him to never talk about this and you told him that his life wouldnt be worth living if he told.. Last week former Mayor of Exmouth and District Councillor John Humphreys, who was also appointed an honorary Alderman in Dec 2019, was jailed for 21 years for a series of sexual assaults. News Advertisement Features Local Features Local News Local Sport Opinion . Only this morning a lady approached me in The Strand and congratulated me. In 2015, after many more years of mental stress, a knock came on the door of my mums house. These incidents were entirely separate and 10 years apart against two children who did not know each other.". I hope that the conviction and sentence handed down may offer some level of closure. Former Exmouth mayor John Humphreys has been found guilty of historic sex offences against two underage boys dating back to the 1990s. Humphreys was among 11 aldermen named by the council in December 2019. He told the council: I rang up to get the case reopened again in 2012. Former East Devon District and Exmouth town councillor John Humphreys is serving 21 years in prison after being convicted of historic sexual offences against two boys in the early 1990s and early 2000s. Alice. The committee's chairman, Conservative Tom Wright, said: "Had it not been for the horrific, scandalous affair of the councillor from Exmouth [John Humphreys], this [issue] probably would not have raised itself.". John, mentioned below. They exchanged vows just 12 hours after the new marriage law came into effect; and to mark the occasion the rainbow flag was flown aloft the town hall. This is a significant change in our country. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. Owl has been asked (31 August) to delete the extracts from page 286 and page 445 by Susan de Soissons | Director, Author & Media Relations Little, Brown Book Group: I write to remind you that permission has not been granted to extract from Diary of an MPs Wife by Sasha Swire. The court heard Humphreys abused the boy on two occasions and on the third meeting, the victim was subjected to a brutal sexual assault he described as rape. David Marston and John Humphreys lead their guests down the steps of Exmouth Town Hall on Saturday with David's niece Olivia McFarland following their wedding ceremony. John Humphrys announces exit from Mastermind after 18 years as host Home News John Humphrys says he is not a 'fan' of Boris Johnson Home News Fury as John Humphrys criticises BBC for. A Gannett Company. Hawara: 'What happened was horrific and barbaric', The people who want you to believe the Ukraine war is fake, What we've learned from Alex Murdaugh murder trial. A Gannett Company. About Author Becca Gliddon eastdevonnews.co.uk Humphreys, aged 59, of Hartley Road, Exmouth, on trial at Exeter Crown Court accused of historic sex offences against two Humphreys sexually assaulted one boy aged 12 to 13 between 1990 and 1991, and a second boy aged 14 to 15 between 1999 and 2001. EDDC councillors have agreed to commission an in-depth investigation into John Humphrey's receipt of the honorary alderman honour > Sidmouth. Would you like to join Honiton Town Council? Former Exmouth mayor John Humphreys who is accused of sexually abusing to boys in thr 1990s and 2000s. An extraordinary council meeting is set to be held to strip a former councillor of his Honorary Alderman title after his conviction for child sex offences. He groomed and assaulted the first victim when he was aged about 13 and had three sexual encounters culminating in a violent sexual attack on Woodbury Common, and then went on to abuse the second boy when he was aged about 15 and met Humphreys while doing a work experience placement from school. In 2021 he was charged with 10 accounts of serious sexual offences against two teenagers in the 1990s and 2000s, and is now serving 21 years in prison. He also denied five counts of indecent assault of a second boy, aged 14 to 15, between 2000 and 2002. Video, Rescuers search wreckage of deadly Greece train crash, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. Humphreys later offered him holiday jobs and went on to abuse him on other occasions, telling him this doesnt mean you are gay. "These sentences must be consecutive. 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