CHRISTOPHER MORRIS SENTENCED IN CHESTER FOR PLANNING ZOO MEETUP WITH CHILD

In June 2021, Christopher Peter Morris, aged 37, was convicted of attempting to arrange a meeting with a fictitious 10-year-old girl at Chester Zoo for the purpose of sexual abuse. Morris had schemed to meet a woman he believed was a nanny and the child, but both the nanny and the child were actually undercover police officers or fabricated identities; the supposed meeting never occurred, possibly because Morris got "cold feet."

A judge at Mold Crown Court sentenced Morris to a total of eight years imprisonment. Judge Christopher Vosper QC stated that Morris posed a "significant risk of harm" to young girls, especially those aged 10 and 11. He remarked, "Although you recognise the wrongness of your sexual inclinations, you are unable to control them."

The court was told that last month, a jury convicted Morris of attempting to facilitate a meeting with a child aged 10 for sexual gratification. His case had been postponed for a pre-sentence report, and today, the court heard the details again as Morris, of Chester Street, Flint, was sentenced.

Evidence revealed that Morris had used the website "xHamster" to communicate via messaging, phone calls, and encrypted calls with a woman he believed to be a nanny. He thought she was involved in abusing a 10-year-old girl in her care.

On September 13, 2019, Morris made an arrangement to meet the nanny and the girl so that he could sexually abuse her while the nanny watched and assisted, the court heard. The nanny, identifying herself as Kay and working as an undercover police officer, claimed she was in Newcastle and proposed meeting at Edinburgh Zoo. However, Morris suggested Chester Zoo instead, as it was closer to his residence.

In October 2019, the nanny indicated she could take the girl to the zoo if Morris approved. Morris responded, "I give you the nod. Please book it. I want to play with her." Although the planned meeting never happened, the judge highlighted that Morris had relished the idea of abusing the girl, even if he ultimately did not follow through.

Additionally, the court was informed that Morris had accessed chatrooms on three separate occasions to view indecent images and was considered to pose a high risk to children, most likely pre-pubescent youngsters.

As part of his sentence, Morris received four years in prison for the attempted meeting, plus an extended four-year term. He was also ordered to comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life and to fulfill a lifelong notification requirement.