Published by Robert L Senior Reporter on Friday 11th April 2025 at 15:55hrs
A 27-year-old man has been jailed for nine months after committing two shocking acts of voyeurism against young girls in North Yorkshire.
Joel Humberstone of Woodville Square, Leeds, brazenly photographed up the skirt of an 11-year-old girl in Ripon before disgustingly repeating the crime against a 17-year-old in Harrogate while on his way to court for the initial offence.
Humberstone was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years, reflecting the severity of his predatory behaviour and the significant impact on his young victims.
The first disturbing incident unfolded on the morning of June 7, 2024, as the 11-year-old girl walked to school in Ripon.
The young victim initially believed it was an accident when Humberstone brushed his phone against her leg.
However, her innocence was shattered when the same man approached her from behind on Allhallowgate, lifted her skirt, and callously took a photograph.
In a stroke of good fortune, two quick-thinking builders witnessed the vile act. One heroically pursued Humberstone as he fled towards Aldi and Ripon Police Station, while the other stayed with the distressed young girl, offering crucial support and ensuring her safety.
Following the incident, North Yorkshire Police launched an immediate investigation.
CCTV footage corroborated the witnesses’ accounts, showing a man matching Humberstone’s description running through Aldi’s car park around the time of the crime.
A public appeal for information led to witnesses identifying Humberstone, and he was swiftly arrested on suspicion of voyeurism. His mobile phone was seized as key evidence.
Despite offering a no-comment interview, refusing to disclose his phone’s PIN, and declining to participate in the identification process, Humberstone was ultimately charged.
He pleaded guilty in court to operating equipment beneath clothing of another without consent and attempting to operate equipment beneath clothing of another without consent.
In an unbelievable display of contempt for the law and the safety of young people, Humberstone committed the same abhorrent crime again on Thursday, February 27, 2025.
While en route to his court appearance for the Ripon incident, he targeted a 17-year-old girl walking on Victoria Avenue in Harrogate.
He approached her from behind, lifted her skirt, and took a photograph or video up it.
The brave teenage victim described feeling Humberstone’s phone brush against her leg.
She reacted immediately, pushing him away, taking out her own phone to record him, and confronting him verbally before bravely calling the police.
Humberstone was arrested once more and subsequently charged for this second shocking act.
Detective Constable Karen Everitt of North Yorkshire Police’s Harrogate Safeguarding Investigation team praised the courage of both victims.
“These were terrifying and traumatic experiences for both young girls, understandably impacting their sense of safety and security,” she stated.
She commended the first victim for her “immense bravery and maturity” in providing a detailed account and positively identifying Humberstone. She also lauded the second victim for bravely confronting him and capturing crucial evidence on her phone.
“Their courage ensured that Humberstone was held accountable,” DC Everitt added.
DC Everitt also extended her gratitude to the two builders for their swift action in the first incident and to the members of the public who provided vital information.
“Humberstone is a dangerous individual, and I welcome today’s sentence, which ensures he faces justice for his appalling actions,” she concluded.
The nine-month jail sentence serves as a stark reminder of the serious consequences of such invasive and predatory behaviour, though many will question if it truly reflects the long-lasting trauma inflicted on these young victims.
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