A paedophile who admits his sexual attraction to young boys will never go away has been sentenced to imprisonment for public protection. At Exeter Crown Court, Judge Graham Cottle said that meant Keith Morris would only be freed when it was deemed safe for him to be released. Forty-six-year-old Morris sexually abused a young boy during a prolonged period. Prosecutor Terry Holder said the boy had learning difficulties and was easily led. Mr Holder said Morris was convicted of indecent assaults in 1980 and given six months imprisonment. In 1989 he was again jailed, this time for 30 months for indecent assaults on males. Within a short time of being released he was again sexually abusing a young boy, this time when he was living in Torquay. He was eventually caught out when the boy's brother came into the bedroom and caught Morris in the act. The prosecutor said Morris managed to keep the boy quiet throughout the time of the abuse by threatening to kill him if he told anyone about what had been happening to him. When he was first arrested he said he was not sexually aroused by the boy and denied the allegations. But he later admitted that he was sexually attracted to boys before puberty because they were easier to control and persuade to engage in sexual activity. He said he would tell his victims that what was going on would be a little secret and he gave them sweets if he had any. Morris said he was aroused by controlling what happened and when. Mr Holder said Morris had told police that he was 'not feeling like that now'. 'But in the light of his pleas that is absolute nonsense,' said the prosecutor. Morris of Drewsmead, Ilsington, pleaded guilty to three charges of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent and one of sexual activity with a child. Mitigating, David Evans said the sex acts happened on six occasions and the offences were serious. Morris knew what effect his offending was having on the victim and he accepted that he posed a danger to young boys. He had been abused as a child and classically became a child abuser himself. Mr Evans said Morris had tried to enter into relationships with adult women and for a long time he controlled his impulses, but in the end he had failed again. 'He is not happy with the way he is, but accepts that he is going to be like it for the rest of his life,' said Mr Evans. 'He will be a target for other prisoners as he has been before and knows he will be again.' Passing the prison sentence, Judge Cottle told Morris: 'There is only one decision for me to make, namely, whether the circumstances of this case and my duty to the public require me to pass an indeterminate sentence or whether the interests of the public are properly met by the imposition of a determinate sentence. 'In reaching that I have taken into account the details of the index offences, your previous convictions for similar offences and your candid admissions that you are attracted to boys of a certain age. Against that background I have to make an assessment of the risk you pose. 'I am satisfied that you are not a person who deliberately seeks out and grooms victims, but you take advantage of opportunities presented to you and it was in exactly those circumstances that you offended on this occasion. 'There can be no doubt that in view of your previous convictions for offences against young boys you pose a high risk of re-offending in a similar way. 'I do not accept that by virtue of your age your risk is reduced, nor do I consider that because the victim in this case was not a stranger to you that is a factor that has any bearing on your risk. 'You are now in denial of the offences to which you pleaded guilty and while that in itself is not an indication of risk it presents complications for effective sentencing planning. In any event I consider that the risk of you re-offending in similar circumstances is unacceptably high. 'I have reached the conclusion that my duty to protect the public requires me to pass on you a sentence of imprisonment for public protection. That means you will remain in custody until the necessary work has been completed by you to address the risk you currently pose. 'You will only be released when it is deemed safe to do so.' Judge Cottle said he was required by law to set a minimum term before Morris would be considered for release and he set that term at four years. Morris was ordered to sign on the Sex Offender's Register for life and was banned from being with children or working with them. He was also made the subject of a sexual offences prevention order banning him from a number of other contacts with children.
