A police media boss who attempted to “dissuade journalists” from reporting on an alleged grooming gang case has been jailed for child sex offences. Humberside Police's former head of communications David Drury, 40, and his teacher partner Daniel Sellers, 44, have both been jailed after admitting a number of sickening offences. Drury, 40, and Sellers, 44, committed the offences on a boy aged under 13 "over a sustained period of time", the force said.

The paedophile couple, from Hull, were arrested in July 2024 and analysis of Drury's electronic devices found multiple indecent images of children before detectives uncovred evidence of "contact sexual offences" by him, police said. Drury was jailed for nine years and Sellers was sentenced to four and a half years at Hull Crown Court on Monday, with Deputy Chief Constable Sarah Baker describing the offences as "appalling". The pair both pleaded guilty in May.

Drury admitted two counts of sexual assault on a male, sexual assault of a child under 13 and six counts of distributing an indecent photograph of a child, as well as voyeurism.

Sellers, who taught drama at a school in East Yorkshire, pleaded guilty to two counts of aiding, abetting, counselling, and procuring/aiding and abetting sexual assault on a male and arranging and facilitating the commission of a child sex offence.

In addition to the jail term both were placed on the sex offenders register for life.

Following the sentencing, Deputy Chief Constable Sarah Baker said: “These offences were appalling.

“The level of abuse Drury and Sellers subjected the victim to showed complete disregard for their welfare and safety.

“I would like to commend the bravery of the victim who supported a police prosecution and provided a victim personal statement.”

East Riding of Yorkshire Council confirmed Sellers previously worked as a teacher at a school in the county.

A spokesperson said that “the offences do not relate to any pupils, past or present”.

In 2021, whilst in post, Drury actively attempted to thwart a Sky News investigation into an alleged grooming gang operating in Hull.

Sky reporter Liz Lane wrote on X: “David Drury was the press officer in charge when Humberside Police tried to dissuade us reporting on an alleged grooming gang in Hull in 2021, and then publicly briefed against us after we broadcast it - our investigation led to the force having to reopen theirs months later.”

The Operation Marksman case was initially wound down in June 2021, but five months later Sky broadcast a series of reports revealing evidence of organised abuse in the city, as well as an alleged new victim in the case.

After examining diaries, texts, school reports, photos of injuries and testimonies of the women, Jim Gamble, the former head of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection service, said there was "significant corroboration" and the case should go to court.

He added: "If they need additional evidence, they should go out and get it."

Thirty-four people were arrested, while 200 digital devices were seized from suspects for forensic examination and more than 100,000 text messages were reviewed. But no one was charged with abuse offences.

Officers concluded that the evidence did not cross the threshold set by the Crown Prosecution Service to proceed to a prosecution.

Humberside Police have been asked for further comment on Drury's behaviour whilst in post.