CHRISTOPHER MORRIS FROM LUDLOW JAILED FOR CHILD PORN OFFENSES DESPITE PAYING £2,000 FOR THERAPY

In a case that highlights ongoing concerns about child exploitation and the effectiveness of rehabilitation efforts, Christopher Morris, a 57-year-old resident of Ludlow, has been sentenced to prison after breaching a court-ordered sexual harm prevention restriction. Despite having paid a substantial sum of £2,000 for therapy aimed at curbing his sexual urges towards children, Morris was found to have relapsed into illegal activity, leading to his incarceration.

The incident dates back to February 20 of the previous year, when police officers visited Morris’s residence in Gravel Hill, Ludlow. During their visit, they discovered that Morris had been in possession of a laptop and two tablets, on which he had installed a specialized browser designed to access child pornography anonymously. This act was a clear violation of a previously imposed sexual harm prevention order, which was put in place following earlier convictions for child sex offenses dating back to 2010.

In a police interview, Morris admitted to viewing between 400 and 500 images depicting child sexual abuse. The evidence was damning, and Morris subsequently pleaded guilty to breaching the court order. The devices he used, including the laptop kept in a carrier bag in his shed, were seized as part of the investigation. The presence of the specialized browser on his devices was a direct breach of the restrictions, and it was this breach that ultimately led to his sentencing.

At the hearing at Shrewsbury Crown Court, Judge Anthony Lowe addressed the court and emphasized that Morris’s actions demonstrated a persistent pattern of offending. Despite the efforts to rehabilitate him through therapy, the judge expressed skepticism about Morris’s progress. He stated that he was not convinced Morris was anywhere near what could be considered rehabilitated, and therefore, a custodial sentence was necessary.

Judge Lowe sentenced Morris to 16 months in prison. In his remarks, the judge acknowledged the efforts Morris had made to address his issues, noting that his lawyer, Mr. Edwards, pointed out that Morris had taken steps to manage his urges. However, the judge made it clear that the only effective way to prevent Morris from relapsing was through incarceration.

“The behavior has certainly been ongoing since 2010, and it’s likely that the sexual attraction has existed even longer,” Judge Lowe said. “In these 12 years, you have not been able to resist the temptation to view such material. This is a persistent breach, especially considering that you downloaded the browser some three years before your arrest.”

Overall, the case underscores the challenges faced in rehabilitating individuals with a history of child sex offenses and highlights the importance of strict enforcement of court orders designed to protect the public from such offenders.