Who Is Herning Thompson?

Herning Thompson is an 82-year-old man from Victoria Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire. He was convicted at Leeds Crown Court in early 2026 of a series of serious sexual offences against young girls spanning four decades. Thompson is now serving an 18-year prison sentence following one of the most significant historic child abuse prosecutions in the Craven area.

His case drew considerable attention not only because of the severity and duration of the abuse but also because of Thompson’s advanced age at the time of sentencing. His crimes, carried out between 1981 and 2020, affected multiple victims who were children at the time of the offending.

What Did Herning Thompson Do?

Thompson sexually abused girls over a period of nearly 40 years. His victims were aged between five and twelve years old at the time the abuse occurred. The offending covered a range of sexual crimes, from indecent assault through to attempted rape.

At trial, a jury found him guilty of the following counts:

• Six counts of indecent assault on a girl under 16
• Four counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching
• Four counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by penetration with a body part or object
• Two counts of attempted rape of a girl under 13

In total, Thompson faced 16 counts covering crimes committed across four decades. The long timeframe of the abuse makes this one of the most prolonged cases of its kind prosecuted in North Yorkshire.

The Investigation and Arrest

North Yorkshire Police arrested Herning Thompson in January 2024 after the abuse was reported to them. The investigation, handled by detectives in the Craven area, gathered evidence relating to historic offences stretching back to 1981. Officers worked closely with the victims, who had come forward to report what had happened to them as children.

Historic child sexual abuse cases are notoriously difficult to prosecute because the offences occurred years or even decades before they are reported. Despite this challenge, the Crown Prosecution Service authorised charges, and the case proceeded to a full jury trial at Leeds Crown Court.

Investigations of this nature are consistent with the UK’s broader commitment to pursuing historical sexual offences regardless of how much time has passed. Victims are encouraged to come forward at any point, and there is no statute of limitations for serious sexual crimes in England and Wales.

Trial and Conviction

Thompson stood trial at Leeds Crown Court, where a jury heard evidence from his victims and considered the 16 charges against him. After deliberating, the jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts.

The guilty verdicts confirmed that Thompson had carried out systematic abuse against young girls over an extraordinary length of time. The victims, who had to relive painful experiences during the legal process, demonstrated significant courage in coming forward and giving evidence.

Cases involving child sexual abuse carry severe penalties under English law. Offences such as sexual assault by penetration of a child under 13 carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, reflecting Parliament’s view that such crimes represent some of the most serious that can be committed against a person. For context on how sentencing guidelines work in the UK, see our guide to UK sentencing guidelines.

Sentencing at Leeds Crown Court

On 11 March 2026, Herning Thompson appeared before a judge at Leeds Crown Court to be sentenced. The judge imposed an 18-year custodial sentence. In addition to the prison term, Thompson was given an extended licence period of 12 months on release, meaning he will be subject to supervision by the Probation Service after leaving prison.

The court also imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for life. An SHPO is a civil order that places restrictions on a convicted sex offender’s behaviour to prevent them from causing further harm. Breaching an SHPO is a criminal offence carrying up to five years in prison. Thompson will also be placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely, given the serious nature of his convictions.

At 82 years old at the time of sentencing, an 18-year sentence is effectively a whole-life sentence in practical terms, as Thompson would be 100 years old at the point of release. The sentence reflects the gravity and duration of his offending as well as the harm caused to multiple victims over multiple decades.

Victim Impact and Police Statement

Following the sentencing, North Yorkshire Police issued a statement praising the courage of the victims for coming forward. Detectives acknowledged that reporting childhood sexual abuse is an extraordinarily difficult step, and that without the bravery of those who came forward, Thompson would never have faced justice.

The case is a reminder that victims of historic sexual abuse can and should report what happened to them, no matter how much time has passed. Support is available from specialist organisations across the UK, and police forces have dedicated teams trained to handle such sensitive investigations with care and professionalism.

Thompson’s conviction and sentence also serve as a deterrent and a statement that the justice system will pursue perpetrators of child sexual abuse across all time periods. His case joins others in North Yorkshire — including cases involving those in positions of trust — where persistent offenders have eventually faced the full force of the law.

Frequently Asked Questions