KEITH MORRIS EXETER AND TORQUAY PAEDOPHILE FACES LONG JAIL SENTENCE FOR HISTORIC ABUSE

In January 2018, Keith Morris, a convicted sex offender with a long and troubling history of abusing young boys, was once again brought before Exeter Crown Court to face the consequences of his latest crimes. Morris, aged 57 and residing in Bodley Close, Exeter, has a notorious past that spans several decades, during which he has served multiple prison sentences for sexual offenses against children. His latest conviction involves a series of serious allegations related to the abuse of a five-year-old boy in Torquay over twenty years ago.

According to court records, Morris pleaded guilty to ten counts of indecent assault and indecency with a child. The offences were committed against the same young victim, who was only five years old at the time of the abuse. The court heard that Morris, who was working as a charity worker at the time, had assaulted the boy on multiple occasions. Disturbingly, he attempted to silence his young victim by offering him a mere £1, a gesture that underscores the callousness of his actions.

During the proceedings, a statement was read aloud from the now adult victim, who described the profound and lasting impact the abuse had on his life. He expressed feelings of devastation and anger, stating, “I was a child. It’s ruined my life. I am responsible for my actions but it is always there in my life and thoughts.” The victim further revealed that he had difficulty recalling his early childhood, including his first birthday and primary school teachers, indicating the deep psychological scars left by Morris’s actions. He also shared that he had developed a habit of self-harming and that he would carry the burden of this trauma for the rest of his life.

He added, “The hardest thing is he will show no remorse. He doesn’t understand the impact. I’m the one with a life sentence hanging over me. No amount of prison will take this away from me.” The victim concluded with a chilling statement, “Truthfully I wish he was dead. That way he can’t hurt anybody else,” highlighting the depth of his suffering and desire for justice.

Keith Morris’s criminal history is extensive and deeply troubling. His previous convictions include a six-month sentence in 1980 for indecent assault on a 14-year-old boy with learning difficulties, as well as gross indecency with a 10-year-old. In 1989, he was sentenced to three years in prison for sexual assaults on boys aged six, eight, and ten. His pattern of offending continued, and in 2007, he received an indeterminate sentence for sexually assaulting a vulnerable 15-year-old boy with learning difficulties. Morris had abused this schoolboy for two years and had threatened to kill him if he disclosed the abuse. Despite the severity of his crimes, Morris was released after serving seven years of his indefinite sentence.

Following his release, Morris resided in Exeter and was employed by a charity, operating under strict license conditions and monitoring to prevent further offenses. During this period, he claimed to have become “comfortable with my sexuality and fantasies” and asserted that he understood how to manage his urges. However, his past actions and the recent charges paint a stark picture of a man with a persistent pattern of predatory behavior.

In the 2007 case, Morris’s family and the public expressed outrage when he was initially granted bail due to prison overcrowding, with many believing he should have received a longer sentence. The family of the young victim in that case voiced their anger, stating, “We’re outraged. This man is a serial paedophile and should have got ten years. My nephew will be gutted.”

At the current hearing, Judge Geoffrey Mercer, QC, adjourned sentencing until January 26 and released Morris on bail, warning him to expect a lengthy prison term. The judge also highlighted Morris’s history of grooming and manipulation, referencing a police interview where Morris detailed his methods of luring and sexually exploiting boys. Prosecutor Mr. Terry Holder described Morris’s attraction to prepubescent boys, noting that he would begin by wrestling with them over their clothes to gain their trust and gradually escalate his abuse. Morris admitted to police that his sexual attraction to boys would never fade and that he dealt with it as best as he could.

In a related context, Morris’s previous convictions reveal a pattern of predatory behavior. His first conviction in 1980 involved indecent assault on a 14-year-old and gross indecency with a 10-year-old. He served six months for that. Later, in 1989, he was jailed for 30 months for assaults on boys aged six, eight, and ten. His most recent and most serious sentence came in 2007, when he was given an indefinite sentence for sexually abusing a vulnerable 15-year-old boy with learning difficulties, a case that drew significant public and media attention due to the potential for early parole.

As of now, Morris remains living in Exeter, under supervision, awaiting the outcome of his sentencing. The court’s decision will determine whether he faces a lengthy prison term for his latest offenses, which are part of a disturbing and ongoing pattern of sexual predation against young boys in the Devon area, particularly in Exeter and Torquay.