ALAN MORRIS FROM BISHOPSTONE SENTENCED IN SALISBURY FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES
In a case that has spanned over several years, Alan Morris, a 63-year-old man from Bishopstone, has been involved in a series of legal proceedings related to serious child sex offences.The latest developments occurred after a retrial at Salisbury Crown Court, which resulted in a mixed verdict but ultimately confirmed his continued imprisonment.
Initially, Morris was sentenced in November 2012 to three years in prison after being convicted of multiple charges, including three counts of indecent exposure, one count of sexual assault, and one count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
These offences were alleged to have taken place in Tisbury between January and June 2010, during which Morris was accused of exposing himself to a young girl and then encouraging her to touch him.
The court heard that these disturbing incidents had a profound impact on the victim, and the case drew significant attention due to the nature of the allegations.
During the retrial held last week, the jury reached a different verdict on some counts.
Morris was found not guilty of one count of indecent exposure but was convicted of another count of the same charge, along with the count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
However, the jury was unable to reach a verdict on the third count of indecent exposure and the sexual assault charge, leading those offences to be left on file, meaning they could potentially be prosecuted again in the future.
Throughout the proceedings, Morris’s defense, led by Marcus Tregilgas-Davey, argued that the incidents were isolated and that there was no contact involved.
Tregilgas-Davey emphasized that Morris had suffered significant personal losses, including being unable to see his three children since his arrest over two years ago, losing his relationship, and being ostracized by friends and family.
The defense also highlighted Morris’s poor health and suggested that a community order might be more appropriate than imprisonment.
Despite these arguments, Judge Nigel Pascoe sentenced Morris to the same three-year term he initially received for the relevant charges.
The judge expressed strong condemnation of Morris’s actions, stating, “Emotionally you created for a young girl a very unpleasant childhood memory.
The bottom line is that the girl told the truth and she didn’t lie at all.
You, on the other hand, tried to lie your way out of this, which is contemptible and cowardly.” In addition to his prison sentence, Morris was ordered to be subject to a sexual offences prevention order for ten years and will remain on the sex offenders register indefinitely.
The court’s decision underscores the severity with which the justice system treats offences involving minors and the importance of safeguarding vulnerable children from predatory individuals like Morris.
