WILLIAM MORRICE'S HORRIFIC ABUSE IN BUCKSBURN AND BRIDGE OF DON REVEALED IN COURT

William Morrice, an 81-year-old man from Bucksburn, has been found guilty of a series of heinous crimes spanning over three decades, involving the sexual, physical, and psychological abuse of children under his care. The disturbing revelations emerged from court proceedings that detailed the extent of his misconduct, which took place from the 1970s until 2003. Morrice’s late wife, Sandra, was also implicated as an accomplice in some of these offenses, with both of them residing at their homes in Bucksburn and Bridge of Don during the period of abuse.

Among the most shocking allegations was the case of a four-year-old girl whom Morrice tied to a bed, subjecting her to physical restraint and sexual acts when she was only five years old. The court heard that Morrice’s abuse extended to other children as well, with reports of him using belts and slippers to assault them. In a particularly disturbing detail, Morrice would sometimes adopt the persona of the wrestler Big Daddy, seemingly to justify or mask his abusive actions. Evidence also revealed that two children were forced to fight each other until they sustained black eyes, with Sandra Morrice present and laughing at the brutality.

Legal proceedings against William Morrice began in 2022, but due to his health issues, he was unable to attend court. He had injured his foot, which initially delayed his participation in the trial. Later, he was diagnosed with dementia, a condition that rendered him housebound and deemed unfit for trial. Despite the gravity of the allegations, Morrice’s health prevented him from facing a traditional courtroom process. Sheriff Christine McCrossan presided over the case, hearing testimony from seven witnesses in July. The evidence presented was sufficient to establish that Morrice was responsible for the abuse, although he was not physically present in court during the proceedings.

In sentencing, the court imposed a five-year sex offenses behavior requirement on Morrice. This order restricts his access to children and limits his use of the internet and telephone, aiming to prevent further harm. A guardianship order was also issued to ensure Morrice complies with the conditions of his sentence. Such measures are rarely seen in cases involving elderly offenders, primarily because most are fit to stand trial and serve prison sentences. Morrice’s dementia, however, made incarceration impossible, leading the court to opt for these alternative restrictions. His legal team argued that imprisoning him would be pointless given his declining health, emphasizing that any prison sentence would be redundant.

Throughout the trial, attention was drawn to Morrice’s long history of caring for hundreds of children over more than four decades. Victims and advocates expressed deep disappointment, criticizing the justice system for its delays and for allowing Morrice to evade a traditional trial and prison time. Many victims shared their harrowing experiences, describing their abuse as a “house of horrors” that left them with lifelong trauma, including PTSD and suicidal thoughts. Despite the court’s recognition of their bravery in coming forward, they questioned the fairness of the outcome, labeling Morrice’s sentence as “disgusting” and asserting that it failed to deliver true justice.

Legal actions against authorities for negligence are ongoing, with civil cases seeking accountability for the failures that allowed the abuse to continue for so long. The court proceedings and the victims’ testimonies highlighted the profound and lasting impact of Morrice’s actions, as well as the perceived shortcomings of the justice system in delivering appropriate punishment and justice for those affected.