CONNOR MORRIS SHOCKS DORSET WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT SCAM AT FAKE FASHION RESEARCH CENTRE
A man from Dorset has been sentenced to prison after orchestrating a disturbing scheme under the guise of a legitimate market research business, which he used to sexually assault seven young women.Connor Morris, aged 26, went to great lengths to establish this fraudulent operation, creating a fake company complete with fictitious employees and renting premises at significant expense to lend credibility to his deception.
He advertised on social media platforms such as Facebook and Snapchat, targeting female models aged between 18 and 30, enticing them with promises of paid work.
Morris claimed that the models would participate in 'data research' aimed at improving clothing sizes for well-known fashion brands including Asos, Pretty Little Things, Boohoo, Oh Polly, and Love Honey.
The women were offered £150 each for their participation, with an additional £50 if they consented to a 'muscle analysis' that involved stripping down and allowing Morris to measure their bodies.
However, this seemingly professional setup was nothing more than an elaborate confidence trick designed to facilitate Morris’s sexual misconduct.
He exploited the trust of these women by groping their breasts and touching their bottoms under the pretense of conducting body measurements.
To further his malicious intent, Morris installed hidden cameras at the Branksome Consulting Centre in Poole, Dorset, where he filmed the women in states of undress without their knowledge or consent.
Two of the victims, after experiencing the unsettling and 'really weird' nature of the meetings, decided to leave and report the incident to the police.
During the investigation, authorities seized devices from Morris’s residence, uncovering 32 images of young women taken without their permission.
Police were able to identify and locate seven victims who had been subjected to Morris’s violations.
Initially, Morris denied deriving any sexual gratification from his actions and claimed he intended to contact the companies involved to see if they wanted to purchase the data he had collected.
However, he later admitted to nine counts of sexual assault and three counts of voyeurism, committed between June and July 2020.
His sentencing took place at Bournemouth Crown Court, where he was handed a prison term of three and a half years.
One of his victims described the sentence as 'absolutely disgusting,' expressing outrage at what they perceived as a lenient punishment for such a serious series of crimes.
Prosecutor Charles Gabb detailed how Morris had falsely informed the owners of the Dorset-based business centre that he needed the space for legitimate purposes, specifically for lifeguard refresher training.
The court heard that Morris sent emails to potential victims from a fictitious individual named Sophie Parnell, purportedly representing Connor Morris Group Ltd.
These emails were part of the elaborate deception, creating an illusion of professionalism and legitimacy.
Mr.
Gabb explained that Morris used pseudonyms and fabricated a business partnership with well-known fashion brands, claiming he was conducting research and offering payment for body measurements.
The emails from 'Sophie Parnell' were entirely fictitious, designed solely to lend credibility to his scam.
During the meetings, Morris often touched the victims’ breasts and/or bottoms, often skin-to-skin, while they were topless, all under the guise of conducting body analysis.
All the companies Morris claimed to be working with have been contacted and confirmed that no such research or partnerships ever existed; the entire operation was a complete fabrication.
The victims, in their impact statements, described feelings of sickness, disgust, and betrayal.
Many reported suffering from trust issues, PTSD, and some have undergone counseling to cope with the trauma.
The court was informed that Morris, who was 22 when the offending began, had no prior criminal record.
His defense lawyer, Lauren Hebditch, stated that Morris, of West Street in Wareham, led a relatively isolated life, having been bullied at school and only maintaining a small circle of friends.
She also revealed that he has been diagnosed as autistic and has taken steps independently, including sessions with a specialist sexual psychotherapist, to address his behavior.
Judge Jonathan Fuller addressed the court, emphasizing the severity of the crimes.
He highlighted the victims’ statements describing violation, disgust, and betrayal, noting that Morris’s actions represented a calculated effort to seek gratification through voyeurism and sexual assault under the false pretense of legitimate research.
The judge described the impact on the victims as humiliating and lasting.
Following the sentencing, one of the victims publicly criticized the court’s decision, stating that the sentence was 'too lenient' and that they were considering an appeal to seek a more severe punishment.
The victim expressed outrage, saying, 'Connor Morris groomed me and he betrayed my trust.
He violated our bodies.
He is vile.
The sentence is absolutely disgusting and he will be out of jail in less than two years.
What kind of message does that send about sexually assaulting multiple women?
It almost says that it is okay to do it.
To give such a light sentence with the number of victims shows that the justice system needs addressing.
We (the victims) are going to appeal the sentence.'
