JOEL MORTER FROM EXMINSTER CAUGHT IN HORRIFIC CHILD SEX OFFENDER CASE IN EXETER

In December 2018, a disturbing case involving Joel Morter, a known sex offender from Exminster, came to light when he was apprehended by a dedicated group of paedophile hunters in Exeter. The incident highlighted the ongoing dangers posed by individuals with a history of child abuse who continue to seek out young victims online.

Morter, aged 29 and residing on Chamberlain Road in Exeter, but at the time living in Westfield, Exminster, had a long and troubling criminal history. His previous conviction in 2015 involved the possession and distribution of horrific child abuse images, which he had downloaded from the dark web. This earlier case led to his placement on the sex offenders register and the imposition of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which explicitly prohibited him from engaging in any online contact with minors under the age of 16.

Despite these restrictions, Morter resumed his online activities, which ultimately led to his downfall. A paedophile hunting group from Portsmouth, known as Protect Pompey’s Innocent, traveled to Exeter to confront him after discovering evidence of his illicit online behavior. They gathered a dossier containing web logs, chat transcripts, and images, which they then handed over to the police. During this operation, Morter was caught attempting to communicate with a decoy profile named Millie, set up by the hunting group, on October 14, 2018. The conversation quickly turned sexual, with Morter sending explicit images of his private parts to the decoy.

Prior to this, police had already uncovered disturbing evidence during a routine inspection of Morter’s laptop in May 2018. The investigation revealed three movies and three images, one of which depicted a boy approximately ten years old masturbating. Further analysis showed that Morter had been actively searching for child images and attempting to contact underage girls. The police found that he possessed a total of 274 movies of child abuse, some of the most extreme category, and had been sharing content over the dark web. His online searches included seeking out children as young as ten, with chat logs indicating he told a 14-year-old girl, “Age does not matter. I like young girls and you are gorgeous.”

In October 2018, Morter’s predatory behavior escalated when he contacted the decoy profile again, engaging in sexualized chat and sending a picture of his penis. His actions prompted immediate police intervention, and during the operation, he attempted to flee by accelerating his vehicle as officers approached. The officers clung to his car for about 20 yards before Morter managed to break free. During the chase, he swerved at two female members of the hunting team, resulting in injuries including bruises and cuts. The police pursued him to his residence, where he tried to hide his laptop inside the house. He was eventually arrested after attempting to conceal evidence.

Morter appeared in Exeter Crown Court, where he was remanded into custody. It was revealed that he was living in a shared house, unaware of his criminal background by other occupants. His previous convictions included a 30-month prison sentence in 2015 for the possession and distribution of child abuse images, as well as attempting to incite children to engage in child pornography. The police had also identified him through international cooperation after discovering images of serious abuse, including over 250 movies depicting child rape and other severe acts.

Judge Peter Johnson sentenced Morter to ten months in prison, describing the search terms found on his laptop as “disturbing.” The judge emphasized the seriousness of Morter’s online predation, stating, “You started chatting with what you thought was a young girl on the internet. In fact, she was a decoy, so happily, despite the fact you were sending messages with considerable sexual content, no harm was done. If you breach this order again, you can expect a sentence measured in years rather than months.”

Prosecutor Mr. William Hunter highlighted the extent of Morter’s online offenses, noting that police found three movies and three images during a routine inspection, including one depicting a boy about ten years old masturbating. The investigation uncovered evidence of Morter’s attempts to contact minors and seek out child abuse material, with some content shared over the dark web. His activities demonstrated a disturbing pattern of seeking out and exploiting vulnerable children, with the youngest contact being a 10-year-old girl.

Morter’s case underscores the ongoing threat posed by individuals with a history of child exploitation who continue to seek out victims online. His repeated offenses, despite previous convictions and legal restrictions, reveal the challenges law enforcement faces in preventing such predatory behavior. The community and authorities remain vigilant in their efforts to protect children from such dangerous offenders.