MICHAEL MORGAN FROM WATERLOO AND WEST CALDER CAUGHT WITH MORE CHILD INDECENT IMAGES IN SCOTLAND

In a disturbing development, Michael Morgan, a known sex offender with a troubling history linked to Waterloo and West Calder, has been apprehended once again for possessing additional indecent images of children. The arrest took place shortly after his return to Scotland from Spain, highlighting the ongoing concerns about his activities and the risks he poses to the community.

According to police reports, officers from Police Scotland conducted a swift and targeted operation at Morgan’s residence in West Calder, just two hours after he landed in Scotland. The timing of the arrest underscores the vigilance of law enforcement agencies in monitoring individuals with a history of child exploitation. Morgan, aged 36 at the time, was found to be in possession of a mobile device that contained not only illicit images but also sophisticated software designed to conceal his online activities.

During the search, officers seized Morgan’s iPhone X, which revealed a disturbing collection of indecent images of minors. The device was equipped with a TOB “Dark Net” browser and the DuckDuckGo search engine, both tools used to encrypt and hide internet activity, making it difficult for investigators to track his online behavior. The presence of these applications indicated an attempt to evade detection and continue his illicit activities undetected.

Morgan’s criminal history is extensive and deeply troubling. In 2009, he was sentenced to ten months in prison and placed on the sex offenders’ register for ten years after being convicted in England of possessing nearly 400,000 indecent images of children aged between two and 14. His previous charges included 25 counts of downloading child pornography between January 2000 and June 2005. The case was initially uncovered when the FBI traced an email linked to a paedophile website subscription back to him. Morgan had paid $50 in July 2004 for a 30-day subscription to a Michigan-based child pornography site, which further implicated him in the distribution and possession of such material.

At Livingston Sheriff Court, Morgan pleaded guilty to two new charges related to his possession of indecent images and the use of prohibited software on his mobile phone, covering the period from July 1 to October 4, 2018. Prosecutor Jim Robertson outlined the details of the case, emphasizing that police were alerted on October 4, 2018, when Morgan’s return from Spain triggered an alert. Officers responded promptly, executing a search warrant at his home and arresting him. The analysis of his phone revealed five images classified as Category A, seven as Category B, and seven as Category C, indicating varying degrees of severity in the content.

Further investigation uncovered that Morgan’s device had the TOB application installed, a tool used to encrypt and obscure online activity, along with DuckDuckGo, a search engine designed to avoid storing search histories. These actions were in direct violation of a sexual offences prevention order previously imposed on him. Sheriff Susan Craig ordered Morgan’s name to be added to the sex offenders’ register for a second time and remanded him in custody pending sentencing. The court scheduled his sentencing for February 22, 2019, to determine the appropriate punishment for his latest offenses.

Michael Morgan’s case remains a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by individuals with a history of child exploitation. His repeated offenses and attempts to conceal his activities highlight the importance of vigilant law enforcement and community awareness in protecting vulnerable children from harm.