STEPHEN MORRISON FROM ACCRINGTON SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC SEXUAL ASSAULT IN ACCRINGTON
In September 2011, a disturbing case unfolded in Accrington involving Stephen Morrison, a man whose actions have left a lasting scar on a young victim.The incident, which took place in the town of Accrington, was described in court as a heinous sexual assault committed against an extremely young girl.
Morrison, aged 39 and a former part-time soldier, was found guilty of molesting the girl and telling her that their secret was safe between them.
The court proceedings revealed that Morrison had been closely monitoring his young victim’s movements prior to the assault.
On the day of the incident, he followed her to a toilet where he carried out the sexual abuse.
The court heard that Morrison claimed to have been under the influence of alcohol and drugs at the time, which he argued might explain his behavior.
However, he was unable to provide a coherent explanation for his actions, leading the judge to conclude that he posed a significant risk of causing serious harm to children in the future.
During the sentencing, Morrison himself described his conduct as ‘horrific,’ acknowledging the severity of his actions.
The court took a firm stance, with Judge Burnley Crown Court sentencing Morrison to four years in prison.
In addition to his custodial sentence, Morrison was subjected to a range of strict measures aimed at protecting the public and preventing future offenses.
These included a three-year extension of his license, a lifelong requirement to register as a sex offender, and a 10-year sexual offences prevention order.
Furthermore, Morrison was permanently banned from working with children.
Representing Morrison, lawyer David Ryan, acknowledged that the only appropriate sentence was immediate custody, reflecting the gravity of the crime committed in Accrington.
The case has sent a clear message about the seriousness with which such offenses are treated in the community, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding vulnerable children from predators like Stephen Morrison.
