JULIE MORRIS AND DAVID MORRIS SENTENCED IN WIGAN FOR CHILD SEXUAL OFFENCES
A primary school deputy head teacher and her partner have been sentenced for numerous child sexual abuse offences, including nine counts of rape.Julie Morris, aged 44, who served as the safeguarding lead at St George's Central C of E Primary School in Wigan, and David Morris, 52, of St Helens, filmed themselves abusing and raping a girl under the age of 13.
Julie Morris was sentenced to 13 years and four months in prison.
Her partner, David Morris, who previously pleaded guilty to 34 offences, received a 16-year prison term.
It is important to note that Morris’s charges are unrelated to his employment, and his case was heard at Liverpool Crown Court.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that videos showed Julie Morris laughing during the abuse.
Judge Andrew Menary, the Honorary Recorder of Liverpool, remarked, "Every now and again you see cases, the circumstances of which are almost beyond belief.
This is one of those cases.
It demonstrates that human depravity really knows no depths." The Crown Prosecution Service described the case as one of the most horrific they have encountered.
District Crown Prosecutor Damion Lloyd stated, "It truly appears like both of them were equally involved.
They’ve formed this horrendous sexual interest in children and acted out their most unpleasant fantasies on the victim.
It’s like a self-perpetuating cycle where they feed off each other's depraved acts." Prosecutor John Wyn Williams explained that the couple met on the dating app Plenty of Fish in 2016 after both had separated from their previous partners.
Their relationship rapidly became highly sexualized, with communications turning graphic and depraved, leading to acts turning into reality.
The couple’s disturbing secret was uncovered when police seized a phone during a search warrant, revealing a conversation involving David Morris about the sexual abuse of children.
Although Morris was arrested and cautioned at that time, he was released.
Police also seized multiple devices containing recordings of rape and abuse.
The following day, the couple was arrested as they appeared to try to escape police in a camper van in the Lake District, with £10,000 in cash.
Investigators examined 175,000 pages of messages exchanged over three years, which included sexually explicit communications.
Additionally, the court heard that Morrison and his partner created a group chat with the young girl, in which they discussed how they would carry out their abuse.
Wigan Council issued a statement, expressing that it had sought reassurance from police that no children at the school had been harmed.
The council added, "We fully understand the school community will be appalled.
These are despicable offences and behaviour, especially from someone in a position of trust." Merseyside Police’s Detective Chief Inspector Bev Hyland described the crimes as 'deplorable' and noted they had a 'devastating impact on the victims and their families.' She emphasized that the couple was fully aware of their actions during their criminal conduct.
Both Morris and Morris were handed indefinite sexual harm prevention orders and are required to register as sex offenders for life.
The charges included various counts: Julie Morris admitted to two counts of rape, nine counts of inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, two counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, as well as taking indecent images, engaging in sexual communication, and possessing indecent images.
David Morris pleaded guilty to seven counts of rape, 13 counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and two counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.
He also admitted to taking, possessing, and distributing indecent images across categories A, B, and C, along with counts of sexual communication with a child, voyeurism, possession of an extreme pornographic image, and possession of a prohibited child image.
