VINCENT MORRIS FROM CIRENCESTER SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC SEXUAL OFFENSES AGAINST CHILDREN

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Cirencester, Vincent Morris, a 55-year-old man residing on Austin Road, has been convicted and sentenced for a series of heinous sexual crimes involving minors. The court proceedings revealed a disturbing pattern of abuse spanning several decades, culminating in a lengthy prison term that underscores the severity of his offenses.

Vincent Morris was found guilty of multiple charges, including the rape and sexual abuse of a young girl, as well as indecent assault on a boy. The charges against him included ten counts in total, with three relating to the abuse of the boy, who was only four to five years old during the mid-1970s, and seven concerning the girl, aged between six and twelve, during the years 2002 to 2009. One of these charges was for the act of rape.

Despite his denial of the allegations, a jury reached a majority verdict on Monday, convicting Morris of nine out of the ten charges, including the rape. The sentencing took place the following day, with Judge Jamie Tabor QC delivering a stern judgment. The judge described the profound impact of Morris’s actions on the girl victim, stating that her life had been left in ruins and that her existence was now a “mess.”

As a result, Morris was sentenced to 12 years in prison for the rape, with an additional three years to be served consecutively for the three most serious sexual assaults on the girl. The court also imposed concurrent sentences of one and two years for the earlier sexual offenses. The judge chose not to impose separate penalties for the offenses against the boy, noting that Morris was himself only 15 at the time of those incidents, and therefore, it was unlikely he would have faced custody if convicted in the 1970s.

The case also included testimony from the girl, who finally confided in her mother at age 15 about the abuse. It was only after this disclosure that authorities were alerted, leading to police involvement and subsequent investigations. Prosecutor Anna Vigars highlighted that Morris initially denied any wrongdoing, asserting that there was no sexual impropriety between him and the victims. Morris claimed during police interviews that the allegations were false and lacked truth.

Further evidence presented during the trial involved a woman who accused Morris of sexual abuse during her childhood. Although Morris was acquitted of these allegations in Oxford in 2002, her testimony was revisited in this trial. The prosecution argued that her account, despite the earlier acquittal, bore striking similarities to the later victim’s experiences, thereby supporting the case against him.

Defense solicitor Jason Coulter provided context about Morris’s mental health and personal struggles. He explained that Morris had been deeply traumatized by the 2002 Oxford trial, which led him to relocate from the area due to the stigma attached. Coulter described Morris’s subsequent loneliness and isolation, noting that he had been on medication for depression and anxiety but had stopped taking it prior to the current charges. Coulter also mentioned that Morris’s first experience of incarceration was particularly distressing, describing his time in custody as “wholly frightening and unenjoyable.”

In conclusion, Vincent Morris’s case highlights the devastating impact of child sexual abuse and the importance of justice for victims. His lengthy sentence reflects the gravity of his crimes and the community’s need for safety and accountability.