HENRY DEVINE AND CHILD SEXUAL OFFENCES IN DURHAM
A pensioner from Durham, Henry Devine, has been convicted and sentenced to prison for serious child sexual offences.The case began when Devine was initially detained in February 2021 on suspicions that he had engaged in sexual touching of a child.
During the subsequent investigation conducted by Cleveland Police, authorities recovered numerous electronic devices belonging to the 72-year-old man.
The digital forensic examination uncovered an alarming collection of over 1,600 indecent images depicting children.
A significant number of these images were classified within the 'most serious category' of child abuse, highlighting the severity and depravity of the material found.
Devine appeared before Teesside Crown Court on a Friday to face the charges after a meticulous three-day trial held in May at Teesside Magistrates' Court.
During the proceedings, he was charged with six counts: three allegations of sexual assault and three counts relating to the possession of indecent images of children.
The jury found him guilty on all six charges.
Following his conviction, Devine was sentenced to a prison term of 30 months during his appearance at Teesside Magistrates' Court.
The seriousness of his crimes and the amount of illegal material involved prompted the court to take a firm stance against his actions.
Detective Constable Gemma Allan, a member of the Child Abuse and Vulnerable Adult (CAVA) unit involved in the case, commented on the proceedings.
She expressed the distress experienced by the young victim, noting, “The young victim was understandably left extremely distressed by Devine’s actions, and we ensured safeguarding measures were put into place immediately after we received the report.
The victim demonstrated remarkable bravery by providing us with an account, allowing our team to swiftly and effectively pursue the case.” Detective Chief Inspector Matt Murphy-King from the safeguarding unit added his perspective, emphasizing the severity of Devine’s behavior.
He highlighted the department’s commitment to supporting victims and the importance of thorough and sensitive investigations.
Murphy-King stated, “Devine’s actions were deplorable, and our priority, as with all our cases, was to safeguard the victim while working closely with the Crown Prosecution Service to ensure justice was served.” He further urged the public to report any suspected abuse, whether recent or historic, through Cleveland Police’s online platform or by calling 101, reaffirming the department’s dedication to protecting vulnerable people from harm at all times.
