OLD COLWYN SEX OFFENDER DANIEL MORRALL SENTENCED FOR BRUTAL ATTACK IN COLWYN BAY

In March 2009, a woman who endured a harrowing sexual assault in a secluded alleyway expressed her relief after her attacker, Daniel Morrall, was sentenced to prison. The incident took place in the early hours of a Sunday in late November, behind shops in Colwyn Bay, a town in North Wales. Morrall, a 21-year-old from Abergele Road, Old Colwyn, was convicted of a vicious and brutal sexual attack that left the victim deeply traumatized.

During the sentencing at Mold Crown Court, Morrall, who had previously appeared on the Jeremy Kyle television show, chose to conceal his face by pulling his jumper over his head. The court heard that Morrall had acted in a predatory manner, following the victim after she declined his advances. The victim, aged 34, recounted her feelings of relief at seeing Morrall sentenced to four years in prison, though she also expressed disappointment that the sentence was not longer. She shared her ongoing struggles, revealing that she is still suffering from the effects of the assault and finds it difficult to leave her home. Her only recent moment of happiness was on Mother’s Day, when her family was around her, providing some comfort amidst her pain.

The victim explained that on the night of the attack, she was out searching for her boyfriend. She had rejected Morrall’s attempts to chat her up when he approached her. Prosecutor Mark Connor stated that Morrall, who had previously appeared on Jeremy Kyle over his addiction to slot machines, gave her an “evil stare” after recognizing her from the show. Following this, Morrall followed her into a dark alley, where he suddenly grabbed her, punched her to the ground, and then subjected her to a sexual assault that the judge described as both vicious and brutal.

Judge Merfyn Hughes QC detailed the attack, noting that Morrall, who had consumed approximately 20 pints of alcohol, had followed the woman with apparent premeditation. The judge stated, “You grabbed her, punched her to the ground and, using a significant amount of force, you sexually assaulted her.” The court heard that Morrall tore her underclothes and used considerable force during the assault. The trauma inflicted on the victim was evident, with the judge remarking that she displayed an extraordinary level of distress during her testimony, a level rarely seen in court.

The judge also highlighted Morrall’s high risk of reoffending, noting that he showed no remorse, lacked insight into the impact of his actions, and demonstrated no empathy for his victim. Despite these concerns, Morrall had no prior sexual convictions. After considering the circumstances, the judge decided against imposing an indeterminate sentence, aiming to balance public safety with the defendant’s background. Morrall was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life, underscoring the severity of his crime and the court’s recognition of the ongoing threat he poses.