ALAN MORTON'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN COLNE AND NEARBY AREAS REVEALED

In a disturbing series of events that have shocked the community of Colne and surrounding regions, Alan Morton, a known sex offender, has been at the center of serious legal proceedings and criminal activities. The case highlights the ongoing issues related to sex offender management and the risks posed by individuals who flout court orders and fail to adhere to legal obligations.

In March 2013, Morton was found to be secretly residing at a guest house in Colne, despite being under strict legal restrictions that required him to notify authorities of any change of address within three days. The court heard that Morton, aged 28 at the time, had deliberately concealed his whereabouts from the police and the guest house owner, claiming he had been living 'informally' at the Ashfield Guest House. He possessed a key to the premises and had been coming and going without the knowledge of the owner or staff, effectively evading the legal oversight that was supposed to monitor his movements.

Details emerged that Morton had been placed on the sex offenders' register in December 2007, following a conviction for sexual activity with a female under 16. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison but was also given a suspended sentence for previous breaches of notification requirements. Despite these legal obligations, Morton had failed to update his address on six separate occasions, breaching the court order repeatedly. His latest breach involved moving to the Ashfield Guest House, which he claimed was an informal arrangement, and he had obtained a key to the property, allowing him to come and go freely.

The court proceedings revealed that Morton had notified authorities of a move to Chapelhouse Road, Nelson, on October 9, but subsequent police visits in January found that he was not residing there. In February, he registered a move back to the guest house, but when police checked on February 5, the guest house staff stated he had not been there since October. When questioned by police after his arrest, Morton admitted that during the first two weeks of February, he had been living at the guest house 'informally' and had managed to obtain a key, which he used to come and go without detection.

Prosecutor Silvia Dacre pointed out that Morton’s previous breach occurred between June and August of the previous year. He had signed on to notify police of his address in June 2011 and was supposed to do so annually, but failed to do so by August 9. His arrest at the Ashfield Guest House was based on these violations, and he claimed he was unaware of the requirement to sign on every year.

During the hearing, Morton’s legal representative, Martin Hackett, argued that the breaches were not serious and emphasized that Morton had not committed any further sex offences. Nonetheless, the court sentenced him to a total of 24 weeks in prison for ignoring the court order once again, following a previous 12-week suspended sentence.

In a related but separate incident from December 2007, Morton, then aged 23, was convicted of a disturbing sexual offence involving a 14-year-old girl. The court heard that Morton was found in bed with the naked girl, who was intoxicated and had taken cannabis supplied by Morton himself. The incident took place at his residence in Colne, where police also discovered two drunken boys asleep in another room. This revelation added to the gravity of Morton’s criminal record.

As a result of this offence, Morton was sentenced to 12 months in prison and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years. He was also issued a Sex Offences Prevention Order, which prohibits him from allowing any child under 16 into his home unless accompanied by an appropriate adult, with the exception of his own daughter. Additionally, he is barred from supplying alcohol to minors under 16.

Judge Beverley Lunt, who presided over the case, acknowledged that although the sexual activity with the girl was consensual, her age of 14 made her vulnerable. The judge noted that the girl had voluntarily consumed alcohol and cannabis, but emphasized her vulnerability due to her age. She clarified that Morton had not enticed the girl to his home and that his previous relationship with another girl had involved summoning children to his residence. The judge remarked that Morton’s background, including a family history of physical and sexual abuse, contributed to his inappropriate thinking and behavior.

Judge Lunt expressed cautious optimism about Morton’s future, stating that he was at low risk of reoffending if he accepted the help offered and abstained from alcohol and drugs. She concluded that Morton was not considered a dangerous offender but stressed the importance of treatment and compliance with court orders to prevent further harm. Morton, who had no prior convictions for drugs or sex offences before this incident, claimed during police interviews that he initially believed the girl was 16, but she later revealed she was only 14.

In his defense, Morton’s lawyer explained that he had set up his own home at the age of 15, amid a turbulent family environment where his parents were frequently sectioned under the Mental Health Act. The lawyer highlighted Morton’s poor educational background and his involvement with peer groups reliant on alcohol and drugs, starting cannabis use at around 14 or 15 years old. These factors were presented as context for his behavior, though they did not diminish the seriousness of his offences.