Former city councillor Ryan Langley told to ‘expect jail’ after admitting sexually exploiting child

GUILTY: Ryan Langley

By Simon Bristow

A former city councillor and ex-deputy leader of Hull’s Liberal Democrat group has been warned to expect a prison sentence after he admitted causing or inciting the sexual exploitation of a child.

Ryan Langley, 34, pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared at Hull Crown Court this afternoon.

He had previously admitted three counts of making indecent photographs of children, and one of distributing indecent photographs of children, when he appeared at Hull Magistrates’ Court in June.

The exploitation offence took place between 2019 and 2021 while Langley was a serving member of Hull City Council.

Langley, of Hessle Road, west Hull, appeared in the dock wearing a white open-necked shirt and spoke only to confirm his name and enter his guilty plea.

Sentencing was adjourned for the preparation of a pre-sentence report. Langley was remanded in custody to appear at the same court for sentencing on October 6.

Judge John Thackray KC, Honorary Recorder of Hull and East Riding, told him: “Ryan Langley, you will get credit for entering your plea and I will adjourn for an all-options report. But you should expect prison is the most likely outcome.

“I will of course hear everything that’s said on your behalf and I will sentence you on the sixth of October. You will remain in custody until then.”

The exploitation victim cannot be identified for legal reasons. The details of the offence are that Langley caused them to be sexually exploited by “engaging in sexual communications and causing indecent images [of victim] to be recorded or otherwise transmitted”.

Langley, who represented the Derringham ward, was first elected to the council as a Liberal Democrat on May 5, 2016, and was deputy leader of the Lib Dem group going into the Local Elections of May, 2021.

He sat as an independent after leaving the Lib Dem group on June 9, 2021, and did not contest his seat at this year’s Local Elections on May 4.