ANDREW MORTON OF HORSFORD AND SWAFFHAM: HORRIFIC CHILD SEX OFFENDER STRIKES AGAIN IN NORFOLK

Andrew Morton, now known as Andrew Ryan, has a long and disturbing history of engaging in heinous sexual offenses involving minors in the Norfolk area, particularly in Horsford and Swaffham. His criminal activities span over a decade, revealing a pattern of predatory behavior that has shocked the local community and prompted serious legal action.

In November 2012, Morton, then aged 30 and residing in Longfields, Swaffham, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to 24 separate charges related to the sexual abuse of young girls at Hammond’s High School in Swaffham, where he worked as a technician. The court was informed that Morton had been warned about his inappropriate conduct as early as 2009. Evidence showed that he had contacted a pupil via Facebook in October 2008, demonstrating an early pattern of grooming and manipulation.

Prosecutor Gerald Pounder detailed how Morton, who was employed as a design technology technician—despite not being a qualified teacher—used social media platforms and text messaging to groom his victims. He would often send dozens of messages, exerting pressure on the girls to respond, engaging in what was described as a calculated, predatory, and prolonged abuse. The court heard that Morton had been verbally warned in April 2009 for sending a sexual message to a pupil, but despite this, he continued his inappropriate communications.

During the sentencing, Recorder Katherine Moore emphasized the gravity of Morton’s betrayal of trust, stating, “These offences were a gross abuse of trust. You used your power and influence and what you did was to corrupt a vulnerable girl.” The court also learned that Morton had admitted to having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl, mistakenly believing she was 16, and possessed extreme pornographic images. Even while on bail, Morton maintained contact with current and former pupils, sending messages of a sexual nature, further illustrating his ongoing predatory behavior.

Following his arrest, police investigations uncovered a disturbing pattern of misconduct. Morton’s actions were described as “predatory,” with authorities condemning his breach of trust with both the school and the community. Norfolk Police’s Vulnerable People Directorate, represented by Detective Inspector Debbie Gunnill, welcomed the lengthy prison sentence, highlighting the calculated grooming and manipulation involved in his crimes.

Earlier in October 2012, Morton, then aged 29, had already admitted to a series of sex offenses involving two teenage girls. He pleaded guilty to 25 charges, including meeting a child following sexual grooming, engaging in sexual activity with the same victim, possessing 192 indecent images of children, and creating indecent videos of the girls. Morton was also found to have taken explicit images of the victims himself and attempted to involve another young girl in sexual activity. His involvement with the local band Midnight Circus, based in Swaffham and Fakenham, was also terminated following these revelations.

Police first apprehended Morton on May 18, 2012, alongside another man who was subsequently released without charge. Hammond’s High School responded by suspending two staff members, neither of whom were teachers, pending further investigation. The school and the Norfolk County Council issued statements emphasizing their cooperation with law enforcement and their commitment to following proper procedures during the ongoing investigation.

Throughout these proceedings, Morton’s case has underscored the dangers posed by individuals who abuse positions of trust to exploit vulnerable minors. His actions have left a lasting scar on the victims and the community, prompting calls for increased vigilance and protective measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.