Pervert who sexually abused two youngsters in South Yorkshire has been sentenced to 28 years of custody
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Sheffield Crown Court heard today, Wednesday, November 18, how Gareth Morgan, aged 40, formerly of Doncaster, and now of Manor Farm Way, Leeds, admitted 11 sexual offences and was found guilty of six sexual offences after a trial.
A trial jury previously found Morgan guilty of six counts of sexual assault against a child.
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Hide AdHe also admitted 11 sexual offences including five counts involving causing a child to engage in sexual activity three times, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and causing a child to watch a sexual activity.
Morgan also pleaded guilty to two counts relating to causing a child to engage in a sexual activity, and four counts relating to causing a child to engage in sexual activity with another child.
The sexual abuse offences had involved mainly one girl but Morgan also subjected a further girl to abuse in connection with four of the counts. Neither can be identified for legal reasons.
He also admitted two further counts relating to making and distributing indecent images of children.
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Hide AdStephen Grattage, prosecuting, said Morgan was initially arrested concerning the discovery of indecent images after police visited his former Doncaster home in November, 2015, and seized his hard-drive and mobile phone.
One of the victims said she suffers with anxiety and nightmares and has become depressed and suicidal.
She added: “I started to get nightmares about it and could not sleep for ages at night and my anxiety got really bad and I was scared to leave the house.”
The second victim stated she suffers with trust issues and finds it difficult to make friends and she wants Morgan to be sentenced because she does not want this to happen to any other child.
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Hide AdBarrister Andrew Smith, mitigating on behalf of Morgan, said the defendant still “resolutely denies” the six counts for which he was found guilty but he accepts the admitted offences were “wholly inappropriate”.
Mr Smith added: “He knows what he did was seriously misguided and caused upset and on-going difficulties.”
Mr Smith also said: “This court deals with serious sex offences against children on many, many occasions and often there can be excuses or reasons in understanding how this came about. Often with perpetrators who were abused themselves. Nothing of that nature is present in this case.
"The defendant fully accepts your honour will sentence him on the verdicts the jury came to but there can be no understanding of how this offending came about. He understands he is going to prison for a lengthy time.”
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Hide AdJudge Michael Slater said he was moved by the complainants’ statements and he told Morgan he had “plundered their childhood” and his “depravity has blighted their young lives”.
He sentenced Morgan to 28 years of custody which includes an additional licence period of 12 months.
Judge Slater also commended the investigating South Yorskhire Police officers for their involvement in a most “complex” and “distressing case” for everyone.