David Morrison, the Wilton Rapist and Sex Offender, who should be serving a ten-year prison sentence, remains at large after failing to appear for sentencing.
David Morrison, 44, remains at large despite his conviction for rape and sexual assault in August, after he was granted bail to arrange his “affairs.”
David Morrison’s absence from a court appearance on October 6 resulted in the issuance of an arrest warrant.
On October 24, the date of his sentence, Morrison was once again AWOL. Two weeks later, he remains unlocated and unapprehended.
He received a 10-year prison sentence in absentia.
The jury was informed that Morrison deserted the woman in a hotel room before returning with another guy, whom he compensated to engage in sexual acts with her to fulfil his own depraved inclinations.
Summarising the case during sentencing, Recorder Paul Reid, who presided over the trial, said: “You [David Morrison] started laughing and said ‘I have got a present for you’.
You said: ‘Do what you want to her, I’m going for a [cigarette] and some wine.”
The woman, who was unaware of David Morrison’s plan, had never encountered this man previously and told him not to touch her.
David Morrison said to her, “You’re making a mountain out of a molehill,” and informed the man he might as well leave, as she’s “not going to do it”.
The court was told that after the man departed, the woman instructed David Morrison not to touch or approach her, but he persisted and raped her.
In a separate incident, David Morrison sexually assaulted the woman.
The survivor has now criticised the justice system, which she believes has let her down. The woman, whose identity is protected by lifelong anonymity
“He’s been found guilty, he’s had his sentence, but he’s never been held accountable.
“How much public funds and public resources are going to be required to attempt to look for him and bring him to justice. This is all because they have failed to listen to the victim and look at the pattern of behaviour and the damage and distress he is causing.”
She has condemned delays in both the investigation and court proceedings, the lack of sensitivity shown by officers, and the provision of unretracted documents to David Morrison.
She claims David Morrison walked free from court following his guilty verdict without any restrictions and alleges that neither the police nor the Crown Prosecution Service has placed any restrictions on his passport.
She said, “You’ve got a man who has been found guilty and committed these crimes, and no one seems to care. Collectively, as a justice system, they have aided him in escaping. They might as well have driven him to the airport.”
The survivor added, “Had the judge remanded him in the first place, then this would never have been an issue. I would have had justice, he would have been sentenced, and I could finally move on with my life.
“Even on Friday [October 24], they were trying to reschedule it. I said I can’t continue to live my life in limbo. There is no regard for my welfare, my family’s welfare, my career, my financial situation.”
Cleveland Police has stated that efforts are underway to locate David Morrison, with the force actively seeking him to ensure he faces justice. However, the woman claims she was informed that the force lacks the personnel to search for David Morrison.
The force also maintains that it is continuing to liaise with the victim in this case.
In court, the woman read her victim impact statement, criticising Morrison’s behaviour during the trial as he “laughed and joked”. She said, “He sat outside, saying he was all excited, showing no remorse or reflection for anything he had done.
“Even after the verdict, the games started again. Intimidating witnesses, sending defence court documents with my name all the way through, breaching my anonymity.
“Yet he was allowed to continue to do this, no regard for the impact it has on me or my life.”
David Morrison has not been charged with any other offences.
The woman, who advocated for sentencing to proceed in David Morrison’s absence last month, states that the defendant’s abuse, along with the subsequent police investigation and court proceedings, has been “detrimental to every aspect” of her life.
She claimed that numerous complaints to the CPS have been ignored.
However, the service has since written to her regarding her complaint and advised her on how to report her concerns about David Morrison’s possession of sensitive material to the police, who can then conduct an appropriate investigation.
Speaking about the proceedings, the woman said, “This was never about him. This was about closure for me. He’s never going to take accountability for anything he has done.
“Regardless of whether I see him hauled off, it makes no odds to me. This is no longer about this man. The distress and everything I went through in that trial, for the judge to turn around and bail him, undid any justice that I will ever get.
“Allowing him to walk away with a passport with no marker on, failure to remove it, and minimal bail conditions. That is an insult to every victim who comes forward and reports it.”
She praised ARCH Teesside, a sexual violence support service, for their outstanding support throughout the ordeal, adding: “Every one of them who has helped me along the way. They have picked me up off the floor when I’ve been unable to carry on.”
A Crown Prosecution Service spokesperson said: “We understand the further distress the victim has been caused in this case. David Morrison had been on unconditional bail since his arrest in May 2023 until the conclusion of the trial. Therefore, there was no basis for the prosecution to object to his remaining out on bail after his conviction. [NOTE – CPS do not consider RAPE a serious offence or worry whether the victim may be affected by bail decisions]
“Following his conviction for serious sexual offences, the court allowed David Morrison to be bailed so that he could put his affairs in order before being sentenced. When he failed to attend court for his sentencing, a warrant for his arrest was issued, and he was subsequently sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment in absentia. We have written to the victim and will also be offering to meet her face-to-face to answer her questions and explain the prosecution’s actions.
David Morrison, from Castle Lane, Wilton, Salisbury, received a 10-year prison sentence.
The hearing on October 24 imposed an indefinite restraining order stopping David Morrison from making contact with the woman, and he will be required to register as a sex offender following his arrest.
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