LEE MORGAN FROM CHATHAM SHAMES COURTROOM AND IS FOUND GUILTY OF CHILD SEX OFFENCES

In a dramatic turn of events at Maidstone Crown Court, Lee Morgan, a 38-year-old resident of Silverweed Road in Chatham, made headlines as he was convicted of multiple serious sexual offences involving two children. The case, which had been ongoing, took a startling turn when Morgan, who was appearing via video link due to a Covid-19 outbreak at Elmley Prison on Sheppey, abruptly left the courtroom in a fit of agitation before the verdict was announced.

During the proceedings, Morgan’s behavior became increasingly animated as the prosecutor, Vivian Walters, addressed the jury. The tension escalated when Morgan claimed that a fellow inmate at Elmley Prison was eavesdropping from outside the video link, which prompted the court to take immediate action. The jury was asked to leave the courtroom while Morgan expressed his concerns, stating that he did not want fellow prisoners to learn details of the offences, fearing for his safety.

Prison officials later clarified that the only person present in the special video link suite was a cleaner, who was subsequently asked to leave the area. To further ensure privacy, the volume on Morgan’s TV screen was reduced. Despite these precautions, Morgan’s agitation grew, and he began shaking his head in frustration. Without warning, he stormed out of the courtroom and refused to return, leading to the case being concluded in his absence.

Following his departure, the jury deliberated and returned a verdict hours later. Morgan was found guilty of a total of 14 sex offences, including eight counts of indecent assault, three charges of child indecency, and three counts of sexual assault of a child. Some of these offences date back to before the year 2000, highlighting the long history of the allegations.

Judge Julian Smith, presiding over the case, ordered that sentencing be postponed until October 12. He also instructed that reports be prepared to assess the potential risks Morgan might pose in the future. The judge emphasized that Morgan must appear in person for his sentencing hearing, underscoring the seriousness of the crimes and the need for a formal judicial process to determine appropriate punishment.