PHILLIP MORGAN FROM NEATH CAUGHT IN SEXUAL ONLINE PLOT INVOLVING UNDERAGE GIRL AT BURGER KING

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Neath, Phillip Morgan, a 35-year-old employed at a local Burger King, found himself at the center of a serious criminal investigation involving online predatory behavior. The incident, which came to light in May 2019, revealed that Morgan had engaged in a deceptive online scheme, posing as a woman to communicate with someone he believed was a young girl.

According to court proceedings, Morgan created a fictitious online persona under the name 'Lucy' and initiated conversations with what he thought was a 13-year-old girl. In reality, the individual on the other end of the chat was an undercover police officer named Steve, operating as part of an investigation. Over the course of a week, Morgan exchanged numerous messages with this officer, during which he expressed sexual interest and asked the 'girl' to send photographs of herself. During their exchanges, Morgan, claiming to be a 26-year-old woman from Swansea, sent a provocative image of a naked woman and suggested they could go for a drive together, indicating a desire to meet.

His actions took a darker turn when, in October, police arrested Morgan. A search of his mobile device uncovered a disturbing video depicting a woman sexually abusing a young girl. Additionally, investigators found a screen grab from the same film. During police interviews, Morgan claimed that the video did not depict a child but was instead a recording of a 19-year-old woman he knew in Llanelli. However, he refused to provide further details about her identity.

Legal proceedings at Swansea Crown Court revealed that Morgan faced multiple charges, including attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor, possession of an indecent image, and making an indecent image. His defense argued that Morgan, who resides on Picton Road in Skewen, Neath, was driven by loneliness and a desire for sexual contact, which contributed to his behavior. The prosecution, however, emphasized the severity of his actions and the potential harm involved.

Judge Keith Thomas addressed Morgan directly, condemning his conduct as 'reprehensible' and 'abhorrent to any right-thinking person.' Recognizing Morgan's guilty pleas, the court sentenced him to nine months in prison, suspended for two years. Additionally, Morgan was ordered to complete a sex offenders' treatment program, and he was placed on the sex offenders register for the next decade. A sexual harm prevention order was also imposed, restricting his activities and contact for ten years, reflecting the court's concern for public safety and the protection of minors from similar threats in the future.