OUTRAGED parents have blasted a judge who let a paedophile with 40 years of convictions return to the North Yorkshire village where he was grooming boys for sex acts.

Martin Humpleby, 62, walked free from Teesside Crown Court after he admitted attempted indecency with two schoolboys at his home in Helperby, near Easingwold.

The court heard that he lured them into his home to help him move furniture and to watch televised football.

There he showed them a pornographic magazine and told them they could make £200 to £300 a night as rent boys in London.Judge Peter Fox, QC said the actions of an alert neighbour had saved them.

"How far the relationship would have gone and for how long in time is a matter for speculation," he added.

He sentenced him to six months, but because he had been in prison on remand since May, Humpleby was released immediately.It is understood he has registered his address as The Almshouses, Helperby, where the offences occurred.

"It's as though they have smacked his hand and let him out," said the mother of one of the two schoolboys.

"It makes you wonder whether it is worth it. We have gone along with everything to help the police," she added.

Both her son and the other boy were prepared to give evidence in court against Humpleby when he changed his plea at the last moment.

Now the family and others are hoping they can move him out of the village.

"We are trying to get something done, but at the end we don't think we will," she added.

"The village isn't going to be able to let the kids play outside again, without wondering where they are."

Prosecutor Jamie Hill said Humpleby had asked the boys to come into his home for various reasons and had there talked to them about sexual acts and performing them.

Gradually over weeks, his talk became more and more sexual.

On one occasion, he had urged one boy to watch him perform a sexual act, but the boy had refused. He had been too scared to leave the house because the room where Humpleby was was between him and the front door.

Humpleby had suggested to the other boy in the street that he teach him to perform a sexual act.

The boys had thought him a "strange old man" and had made sure they went to his home in groups of two or three to be safe. A neighbour worried about their visits called in the police.

Humpleby has committed numerous offences against children, some as young as eight. Most of his victims were boys.

For Humpleby, Ian Bradshaw said he had done to others what others had done to him and he had very low intelligence.He had not committed any sexual acts with his latest victims.

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