GARY MORRIS JAILED FOR 'PERSISTENT AND REPEATED' SEXUAL ABUSE OF YOUNG GIRLS
A RAPIST who groomed and repeatedly sexually abused young girls has been jailed for more than a decade.Gary Morris was sentenced to 12 years in prison when he appeared at the High Court in Glasgow on Friday, July 25.
The 55-year-old, previously of Galston, was found guilty of four charges involving numerous rapes and sexual assaults following a trial earlier this year.
Morris indecently assaulted one young victim on various occasions between January 2007 and November 2010, when the girl was under 16.
The offender performed sex acts with her and upon himself in her presence at an address in West Kilbride and elsewhere.
He raped the same girl "on various occasions" between the same dates and at the same North Ayrshire property, as well as locations in Loch Lomond and Dunoon.
Morris was also convicted of raping the same complainer on various occasions between December 2010 and January 2013.
A final conviction related to an incident on January 3, 2009, which also took place at a home in West Kilbride, where Morris indecently assaulted another teenage girl.
Sentencing, Judge Scott Pattison told Morris that the evidence told a story of sexual grooming, persistent and repeated rape, sexual assault, and abuse.
The victims, now young women, bravely spoke about the lifelong impacts of Morris's criminal behaviour.
One woman said she felt "pain and shame" and suffered from "nightmares and relentless panic." The other victim spoke of living with worry and frustration for 16 years, feeling that people did not believe her, affecting her relationships, and tainting every happy memory.
Judge Pattison emphasized that the lifetime consequences warrant a significant custodial sentence, stating that Morris maintained his innocence but the jury concluded it was his fault.
The harm caused was significant and lifelong, with aggravation due to the persistence of the offences, the victim being a child for much of the abuse, and breach of trust.
Morris was sentenced to 12 years, with the sentence backdated to his remand on June 24 of the previous year.
A non-harassment order for both victims was also imposed permanently.
Additionally, Morris is now on the sex offenders register indefinitely.
