JAMES MORRISH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY SCANDAL IN KINGSTONE AND WORCESTER

In July 2007, a disturbing case emerged involving Reverend James Morrish, a vicar from Kingstone, Herefordshire, who became the subject of a criminal investigation after his wife, Rosemary Morrish, discovered his illicit online activity. The incident unfolded when Rosemary entered their study and was confronted with a shocking image of a naked young girl displayed on their computer screen. Alarmed and distressed, she immediately contacted the police to report her husband's actions.

According to court proceedings at Worcester Crown Court, Reverend Morrish, aged 41, had engaged in a 45-minute online session during which he viewed over 612 indecent images across two different computers. The court heard that these images included photographs of young girls, with Morrish admitting to viewing material involving girls aged between 16 and 18. The investigation revealed that Morrish had searched for and accessed various pornographic websites, some of which contained images involving minors. He claimed that he had accidentally accessed some of these images, flicking through them before closing the sites. Despite his assertions, the evidence confirmed that he had viewed a significant number of indecent images.

In October 2005, Morrish pleaded guilty to 11 charges of making indecent photographs. His actions led to his removal from the Church last month, marking a fall from grace for the once-respected vicar. The court heard that Morrish's wife, Rosemary, has chosen to remain with him despite the revelations, a decision that appeared to influence the leniency of the sentence handed down.

Judge Alistair McCreath, presiding over the case, opted for a relatively lenient punishment, giving Morrish a three-year community order and instructing him to participate in a sex offenders' rehabilitation program. The judge justified this decision by citing Morrish's previously unblemished character, which he described as 'impeccable.'

Samantha Powis, representing Morrish in mitigation, emphasized that the images were not paid for, stored, or downloaded onto his devices. She argued that Morrish's actions were limited to clicking on inappropriate sites without further distribution or possession of the images. Nonetheless, the court's verdict underscored the seriousness of the offense, despite the relatively lenient sentence, highlighting the ongoing concern over online child exploitation and the importance of accountability for such conduct.