WARNING: DISTURBING CONTENT – Sick couple, Wigan teacher, Julie and partner David Morris raped, abused and groomed a young girl into thinking what they did to her was normal – this is the evidence that put them behind bars

A teacher for a decade and devout churchgoer of 30 years doesn’t sound like the classic background of a child rapist.

This is the case for Julie Morris, however, who was jailed on Wednesday, December 22 for 13 years.

This week the court heard how Julie had been abusing a young girl.

Her partner, David Morris, also received a 16-year sentence with an extended licence period of four years. It is a coincidence that the pair share a surname.

David pleaded guilty to all 34 offences brought against him in October.

Julie Morris became a teacher at St George’s Central Church of England primary school in 2011, although the court heard that her crimes were not in any way committed via her place of work.

In a grim twist, she had a qualification as a safeguarding leader at St George’s and led a Sunday School group at her local church.

Morris’ claims vs the police’s findings

In the trial, Julie claimed she had been coerced by David into participating, citing a fear he would leak naked images of her to her loved ones and colleagues if she didn’t join him in his sick activities.

However, a mass of evidence compiled by investigators found that Julie, who also pleaded guilty, still deserved 13 years behind bars.

The police and Crown Prosecution found no evidence David had ever made such threats to her. Instead, it looked like she was a willing participant.

Appearing at her trial via video call, the 44-year-old Wigan deputy head wept uncontrollably, pleading guilty to nine counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, two counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and two counts of rape.

District crown prosecutor Damion Lloyd said: “It truly appears like both of them were equally involved.”

Read on for the evidence that helped police put her behind bars.

The arrest of a fellow paedophile

When another paedophile was arrested in January of 2021, police found they had been in contact with a mechanic named David Morris from Eccleston.

After they had secured a warrant to search David’s home they made a series of horrifying discoveries, arresting the pair the next day.

Neither Julie nor her boyfriend David had any prior convictions until the evidence in the investigation led to them.

Mairead Neeson, the Senior Crown Prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “It was purely by chance that through examination of a completely separate, unrelated person’s mobile phone, they discovered David Morris’ contact details and that he appeared to be exchanging messages and possibly images relating to the abuse of children.

“It’s the worst case that I have seen in my career.

“It was horrendous. At the end of it I burst into tears.

“It’s a young child whose innocence has been stolen and been abused

“I know that quite a number of the police officers have been really affected, especially the ones who have been watching the videos because they have young children themselves and they cannot understand how anyone can do that.

“She wasn’t just in a position of trust, she was looked up to and respected within the community.

“Whenever you look at the photographs of her she looks like an attractive normal woman, you would never imagine she could do something like this.

The videos of their vile acts

The evidence the police found when they searched the house included footage of the pair carrying out their heinous crimes.

Countless videos of David and Julie abusing the victim were found. Julie can be heard giggling in many as the vile acts are carried out.

Honorary Recorder of Liverpool, Judge Andrew Menary, said: “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.”

Julie also admitted to taking indecent images of the child, as did David.

Their sick messages to one another

175,000 pages of WhatsApp messages were trawled through, and in them, vile texts between the pair were found.

They sent messages discussing their sexual interest in the girl – in one message described David as “naughty thoughts”.

In the messages, they also contacted the girl directly and told her what they were planning.

A group chat with all three parties was also formed, in which sexual messages were exchanged.

The huge pile of cash

When the police went to arrest the pair, they found them in a nearby caravan with £10,000 in cash in what appears to be an attempt to evade the police.

It is believed they had been preparing to flee the country.

Prosecutor John Wyn Williams said: “They were on their way to the Lake District in a camper van with £10,000 in their possession.”