JOHN MORELL FROM LUDGERSHALL SENTENCED FOR WEBCAM SEX OFFENSES IN SALISBURY
| Red Rose Database
Ludgershall Child Sexual Abuser
In June 2012, a man named John Morell from Ludgershall faced serious legal consequences after engaging in disturbing online sexual activities with a minor. The case, which garnered significant attention, involved Morell encouraging a 14-year-old girl to perform sexual acts via webcam, a crime that led to his imprisonment and subsequent legal battles.
John Morell, aged 53 and residing on Johnson Way in Ludgershall, was initially sentenced to six months in prison at Salisbury Crown Court in April 2012. The sentence followed his admission to causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. Despite the conviction, Morell challenged his sentence at the Criminal Appeal Court in London, arguing that he should have received a community-based punishment rather than incarceration.
However, the appeal was swiftly dismissed by three of the country’s most senior judges. Mr Justice Burnett, sitting alongside Lord Justice Hughes and Mr Justice Nicol, confirmed that the original sentence was appropriate and that a six-month jail term was not excessive. The judges emphasized that Morell had initiated contact with the girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, through an adult dating website. Initially, Morell believed the girl was 20 years old, but she later disclosed that she was only 14 at the start of their online interactions.
Despite knowing her true age, Morell continued to exchange graphic and sexually explicit messages with her over a period of ten days in August 2010. He encouraged her to strip and to perform sex acts while he watched via a webcam, although he did not allow her to see him. During police interviews, Morell initially claimed he thought the girl was over 16, but he soon admitted that he realized her true age and expressed remorse for his actions.
Prior to sentencing, a probation officer recommended a community order lasting three years, including participation in a sex offender treatment program. This recommendation was based on concerns that Morell lacked insight into the harm caused by his conduct. Nevertheless, the court upheld the original jail sentence, with Mr Justice Burnett stating that it was “not inappropriate” for Morell to be imprisoned immediately.
Earlier in April 2012, Morell’s actions were described as those of a “lonely and isolated” individual. His guilty plea to charges of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity resulted in his six-month imprisonment at Salisbury Crown Court. Prosecutor Tessa Hingston detailed how Morell had contacted the vulnerable girl via a social networking site in August 2010. Despite being informed of her age, he engaged in highly explicit conversations over ten days, encouraging her to perform sex acts on camera and even discussing the possibility of her traveling from the north of England to meet him.
During police interviews, Morell claimed that any references to her age were part of a fantasy role play, although he acknowledged that she appeared to be around 14 or 15 in photographs. His defense lawyer, Marcus Davey, argued that Morell was feeling isolated and suffering from depression. He also pointed out that police had seized his mobile phone and computer, which contained no inappropriate images or evidence of contact with other children. The defense recommended a rehabilitation program as part of a community order, describing the case as an “abhorrent one-off” incident.
Judge Keith Cutler, presiding over the case, condemned Morell’s conduct, stating, “You were chatting, sometimes virtually all night, with a 14-year-old girl. It was persistent and it was perverted. You knew it was wrong and you knew you shouldn’t be doing it, as soon as the girl told you she was 14 that should have been the end of it.” The judge emphasized the importance of sending a clear message that adult men must exercise extreme caution before engaging in such behavior with minors online. As part of his sentence, Morell will remain on the sex offenders register for ten years, reflecting the serious nature of his crimes and the potential risk to the community.
John Morell, aged 53 and residing on Johnson Way in Ludgershall, was initially sentenced to six months in prison at Salisbury Crown Court in April 2012. The sentence followed his admission to causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. Despite the conviction, Morell challenged his sentence at the Criminal Appeal Court in London, arguing that he should have received a community-based punishment rather than incarceration.
However, the appeal was swiftly dismissed by three of the country’s most senior judges. Mr Justice Burnett, sitting alongside Lord Justice Hughes and Mr Justice Nicol, confirmed that the original sentence was appropriate and that a six-month jail term was not excessive. The judges emphasized that Morell had initiated contact with the girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, through an adult dating website. Initially, Morell believed the girl was 20 years old, but she later disclosed that she was only 14 at the start of their online interactions.
Despite knowing her true age, Morell continued to exchange graphic and sexually explicit messages with her over a period of ten days in August 2010. He encouraged her to strip and to perform sex acts while he watched via a webcam, although he did not allow her to see him. During police interviews, Morell initially claimed he thought the girl was over 16, but he soon admitted that he realized her true age and expressed remorse for his actions.
Prior to sentencing, a probation officer recommended a community order lasting three years, including participation in a sex offender treatment program. This recommendation was based on concerns that Morell lacked insight into the harm caused by his conduct. Nevertheless, the court upheld the original jail sentence, with Mr Justice Burnett stating that it was “not inappropriate” for Morell to be imprisoned immediately.
Earlier in April 2012, Morell’s actions were described as those of a “lonely and isolated” individual. His guilty plea to charges of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity resulted in his six-month imprisonment at Salisbury Crown Court. Prosecutor Tessa Hingston detailed how Morell had contacted the vulnerable girl via a social networking site in August 2010. Despite being informed of her age, he engaged in highly explicit conversations over ten days, encouraging her to perform sex acts on camera and even discussing the possibility of her traveling from the north of England to meet him.
During police interviews, Morell claimed that any references to her age were part of a fantasy role play, although he acknowledged that she appeared to be around 14 or 15 in photographs. His defense lawyer, Marcus Davey, argued that Morell was feeling isolated and suffering from depression. He also pointed out that police had seized his mobile phone and computer, which contained no inappropriate images or evidence of contact with other children. The defense recommended a rehabilitation program as part of a community order, describing the case as an “abhorrent one-off” incident.
Judge Keith Cutler, presiding over the case, condemned Morell’s conduct, stating, “You were chatting, sometimes virtually all night, with a 14-year-old girl. It was persistent and it was perverted. You knew it was wrong and you knew you shouldn’t be doing it, as soon as the girl told you she was 14 that should have been the end of it.” The judge emphasized the importance of sending a clear message that adult men must exercise extreme caution before engaging in such behavior with minors online. As part of his sentence, Morell will remain on the sex offenders register for ten years, reflecting the serious nature of his crimes and the potential risk to the community.