A CONVICTED sex offender who used an unapproved username on a dating website and deleted his internet history in Bangor has been jailed.
Jay Humphries, 36, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to 58 weeks’ imprisonment at Caernarfon Crown Court today (August 11).
He had previously pleaded guilty, on July 21, to counts of breaching his sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).
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Prosecuting, Catherine Elvin told the court that Humphries’ SHPO was initially enforced in September 2018 at Cardiff Crown Court, when he was convicted of numerous sexual offences including rape.
His SHPO prohibited him from deleting his internet or file browsing history on any device, and from holding any social media account and/or internet profile, other than in the name of “Jonathan Drakeford”, or another name approved by police.
Humphries has changed his name from Jonathan Drakeford, his birth name, since then.
After his release from prison in January, he went to reside at an approved premises, under the supervision of a defendant manager, PC Parry.
On January 20, Humphries asked PC Parry if he could access the “FabGuys” dating website, and was told he could, but must use the name “Jay Humphries” and provide the authorities with his password.
PC Parry conducted checks on Humphries’ mobile device on March 6, and discovered no internet history was visible on it.
There was further evidence discovered which proved he had been accessing FabGuys frequently on the days which showed no internet history.
His conversations on the website, Ms Elvin said, were “sexually explicit”, but were “not illegal in any way”.
Humphries had also contacted his wife on March 3 to ask her “how to get rid of Google”.
PC Parry also discovered Humphries’ FabGuys username was “naughty 5007387”, which had not been unapproved and breached the terms of his SHPO.
When interviewed by police, Humphries said he had accidentally deleted his internet history, and said his chosen username was due to him being unable to use the agreed “Jay”.
Ms Elvin said Humphries had made a “deliberate effort to conceal his internet history, supported by the message to his wife”.
She added that he made “no effort to report any purported accidental deletion” and that his chosen username was “deliberate, and knowingly against the order”.
“He knew what had been agreed, and nonetheless proceeded to set up that profile,” she said.
Defending, Richard Edwards said that Humphries maintains that the internet history deletion was accidental.
Following assessment in 2018, Humphries met the criteria for autism spectrum disorder, an effect of which is that he struggles with “face-to-face” interaction.
His autism “may go somewhat to explaining the defendant’s actions”; though Humphries was said to have had some contact with an autism specialist while in custody.
Humphries’ intelligence quotient was also said to be lower than average for a man of his age.
Sentencing, Judge Timothy Petts ordered Humphries’ SHPO to continue, and for him to also pay a statutory surcharge.
He also made a deprivation order regarding the mobile phone which Humphries used to breach his SHPO.
Judge Petts told Humphries: “You were warned, not long after your release, about apparently deleting text messages. That was a warning that you did not heed.
“It’s clear that you deliberately, rather than accidentally, deleted your browsing history.
“It’s unavoidable that a prison sentence be imposed. It cannot be suspended, because there are no community conditions that can be applied to you.”
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