SHAUN MORRIS FROM HARLOW CAUGHT IN ONLINE CHILD PREDATOR STING AT CHELMSFORD CROWN COURT
In November 2018, a disturbing case unfolded involving Shaun Morris, a 41-year-old man from The Lawn in Harlow, who became the subject of a criminal investigation after attempting to engage in illicit online conversations with what he believed were two underage girls.Unbeknownst to Morris, both of these profiles were actually decoys created by an online predator hunting group known as Soloceptors, designed to catch individuals attempting to exploit minors.
According to court reports, Morris initiated contact with the first decoy profile at the beginning of January 2018, sending a message via an online application under his personal profile named Shaun M.
The conversation started innocuously, with Morris greeting the decoy with a simple, “hi you look nice.” The decoy, posing as a 13-year-old girl, responded and confirmed her age.
Morris then made comments suggesting she appeared older, which he considered a positive trait, and disclosed that he was 40 years old from Essex.
Throughout that day, Morris continued to exchange messages with the decoy, claiming he was trying to behave himself but admitted that his behavior was influenced by his “horny thoughts.” When the decoy asked what “horny” meant, Morris explained it was related to sexual feelings.
The conversation took a more explicit turn when Morris asked if she had ever seen a penis in person.
The following day, he offered to show her his, promising it would be a secret.
Despite her expressed fear, Morris sent a photograph of his genitals to the decoy.
The exchanges persisted until January 7, with Morris even joking that if they were closer, he would bring her an umbrella to keep her dry in the rain.
After that date, the messages ceased, although Morris attempted to reinitiate contact at the end of January and again in March, but the decoy profiles did not respond.
These attempts were part of a broader investigation by the online predator hunters, who had set up these decoys to catch individuals like Morris.
Similarly, a second decoy profile from Sheffield was used to engage Morris in February.
This profile, claiming to be 13 but actually 14, received messages from Morris starting February 10.
He again disclosed his age and sent a picture of her face, suggesting he would teach her how to kiss a boy if she was closer.
When she reiterated her age as 13, Morris responded with a comment implying she had a few more years before he could pursue anything further.
He also sent another explicit image of his penis during this exchange.
His actions eventually led to his arrest after the online predator hunters tracked his home address and confronted him on the street in Harlow.
The confrontation was filmed and shared online, bringing the case to public attention.
During his court appearance at Chelmsford Crown Court, Morris appeared subdued, staring at the floor as his defense lawyer, Emma Davenport, addressed the judge.
Ms.
Davenport highlighted Morris’s complex mental health issues, including anxiety, a speech impediment, and other psychological problems.
She explained that Morris had fully admitted to sending the messages but struggled to comprehend the severity of his actions.
She also noted that he rarely left his house, only venturing out early mornings or late at night to avoid social interactions.
Judge David Turner QC acknowledged the mental health considerations but expressed concern about Morris’s behavior.
He remarked, “I did wonder how he would fare on a coach load of unpaid workers going off on a job somewhere.
I am fairly anxious about that.” Ultimately, the judge decided not to send Morris to prison for his attempts to cause a child under 13 to engage in sexual conversations.
Instead, he sentenced him to concurrent six-month jail terms, suspended for two years, along with 50 days of rehabilitation requirements and 80 hours of unpaid work.
Additionally, a Sexual Harm Prevention Order was granted for seven years, and Morris was placed on the sex offenders register for the same duration.
Judge Turner emphasized that there was no real child involved in the case, noting that Morris had been caught by individuals acting as online predator catchers.
He described Morris as a “sad and vulnerable person,” highlighting the importance of understanding his mental health struggles while also condemning his actions.
The case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and online safety groups to combat online exploitation and protect minors from predatory behavior.
