GENE MORRISON FROM HYDE SENTENCED FOR CHILD RAPE IN GREATER MANCHESTER

In December 2009, a disturbing case unfolded involving Gene Morrison, a man from Hyde, Greater Manchester, who was convicted of heinous crimes against young girls. Morrison, who had previously posed as a forensic scientist and provided false expert testimony in numerous court cases, was now found guilty of sexually abusing four young victims, with the court hearing harrowing details of his predatory behavior.

Gene Morrison, aged 51 at the time, was sentenced at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court after a thorough trial that revealed his manipulative and ruthless nature. The court learned that Morrison had exploited his false reputation as a forensic expert to gain the trust of vulnerable children, many of whom he met through church communities. His victims ranged in age from just eight to fourteen years old, and the abuse took place over a period spanning from 2000 to 2007.

During the proceedings, it was disclosed that Morrison, who was known locally as 'Rocky' and was described as a 'Walter Mitty' character, used his charm and eloquence to groom young girls. He would often present himself as a caring father figure, taking advantage of their trust by giving them presents and gradually escalating to acts of sexual assault. The court heard that Morrison raped two of his victims when they were only 10 and 11 years old, respectively.

His criminal conduct was particularly heinous because he targeted children who were especially vulnerable, exploiting their innocence and trust. The court was told that Morrison’s actions were driven by a ruthless desire to dominate and sexually exploit these young girls. The families of the victims believed Morrison to be a reputable forensic expert, a reputation he had fabricated, and his involvement in religious activities at Seventh Day Adventist Churches further contributed to the trust placed in him.

Judge Timothy Mort, delivering the sentence, condemned Morrison’s predatory behavior, stating, “Underneath it, you were utterly ruthless, because you targeted those who were vulnerable and put their trust in you. When things were not going your way, you were not slow to resort to violence. You are, whilst charming, utterly ruthless as a sexual predator.”

Victim impact statements were read aloud in court, with one girl expressing the lasting scars left by Morrison’s abuse: “He was a very important person with a very important job and I was just a dirty schoolgirl. The mental scars will remain with me forever.”

Morrison’s criminal record includes convictions for three counts of child rape, six counts of indecent assault, four counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child, and one count of perverting the course of justice. These charges represented only a portion of his misconduct, as the court heard that his criminal behavior was extensive.

Following his conviction, Greater Manchester Police’s Detective Constable Kath McKenzie commented on the case, emphasizing the lasting impact on the victims. She stated, “Morrison thought of himself as something of a charmer, but he could be intimidating and was clearly able to scare his victims into remaining silent. Some of his victims have now grown into young women, but some are still teenagers. However, they all have one thing in common – they will never be able to forget what has happened to them and have been scarred for life.”

It was also revealed that Morrison had previously deceived legal professionals and law enforcement by pretending to hold qualifications in forensic science. In reality, he left school without any formal qualifications, and his degrees were downloaded from bogus US universities on the internet. His deception and criminal activities have left a dark stain on his reputation and have caused immeasurable suffering for his victims.