Ilsington was picking up the pieces this week after a media furore surrounding the release on bail of 'dangerous paedophile' Keith Morris. On Friday, TV crews, photographers and reporters descended on the tiny Dartmoor village, some camping overnight outside his mother's home where Morris is staying until he is sentenced on February 23. The decision of Exeter Crown Court judge Graham Cottle to release Morris, 46, on bail, after he being convicted of serious sexual offences against a teenager, set off a political storm about prison overcrowding. Judge Cottle cited 'the rather unusual circumstances in operation at the moment', a reference to the Home Office urging judges not to jail less-serious offenders. Prime Minister Tony Blair interrupted his visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos to reassert that judges should jail any person they were dealing with whom they thought was a danger to the public. On Monday, Home Secretary John Reid sought to defuse the situation. Writing in The Guardian, he said: 'Last week I was lambasted when the Lord Chancellor, the Attorney General and I set out the big picture on prisons and sentencing to the National Criminal Justice Board. This was unfair – the Lord Chief Justice made clear that I had 'not sought to instruct judges to stop imposing sentences of imprisonment. 'There is pressure on prison places because we are bringing 300,000 more offences to justice than five years ago; the most dangerous offenders serve significantly longer sentences; and we asked the probation service and police to enforce community sentences and bail conditions properly the the first time.' For Ilsington, the issue was much simpler: how to manage the situation as calmly and sensibly as possible. Morris' trial was adjourned for the preparation of a pre-sentence report. Meanwhile, he is under curfew to remain at home between 8am and 5pm, recently extended to seven days a week. Ilsington Church of England primary School head Tracy Hannon said she had been aware of Morris' presence and impending trial for nearly a year and been in close contact with the Public Protection Unit in Paignton throughout. On Saturday morning, she rang each of the 60 families with children at the 73-pupil school. 'I just wanted to check that the children had slept after the night before. It was quite frightening with all the cameras, police cars and TV vans. It was also an opportunity for parents to ask questions.' A meeting was held on Tuesday, so that parents could voice concerns to Sgt Tim Colliver from the Public Protection Unit. About 30 parents attended the half-hour meeting. Sgt Colliver said he gave information on how the police manage sex offenders in the community, through regular unannounced visits, the sex registration requirements and liaison with probation, social services and education departments. 'Yes they were concerned. People were worried about him hanging around [before the trial] but there is no evidence that he had committed any offence. 'He was spoken to by officers from our unit and advised on what was appropriate contact.' Parents were also worried about what will happen once Morris is released. Sgt Colliver said they would be applying for a Sex Offenders Prevention Order, which will be tailored to his specific kind of offending. 'The media image is of a nasty man who is going to grab their kid in the park. These offenders are probably in the minority. The majority commit offences against people they know, who they are grooming. 'I talked about how to keep an eye on your child and said, try not to focus on Mr Morris because he is one of many offenders, many of whom we probably don't know about.' Community governor Michael Brown said he felt that Morris was no longer a serious threat. 'His curfew has been extended and I am sure if he steps outside his door during the day the police will be told. He is not a violent man – he is a groomer.' Parents leaving the meeting were similarly reassured. One mother, who did not want to be named, praised the school's prompt action and support. Another mother said: I have told him [her son] that there is a man in the village who has thoughts about children. I told him that he might offer him sweets or try to make friends and if anything were to happen he should never be afraid to tell me.' Alison Starkey, whose sons James, 11 and Joshua, six, attend the school, said: 'We know where he is, what he looks like and where he lives and he's got a curfew. 'He should be behind bars, but there is tighter security at the school and the children are well looked after.' Mother Maxine Hoffman said: 'It feels much safer than if we lived in a larger community because we all know each other and we look out for each other. I feel angry that he was let out, but the meeting was a great help.' For many, the intense media interest had been the worst aspect of the affair. Drinkers at The Carpenters Arms, who dubbed themselves The Collective, were angry at an irresponsible attitude displayed by many journalists. 'There was a huge bunch of journalists invading the village with no thought of the villagers and no thought of the consequences – if someone from Plymouth decides to throw a petrol bomb through the wrong person's window,' said one. They were incredibly intrusive. They asked if we had pictures of the man. I feel so sorry for the mother. They are a lovely family. They have lived in the village all their lives. She is 70-odd and she had all this all of a sudden. I don't suppose she had seen a TV crew at work before,' said another. They were in no doubt that the village had got caught up in a political fight between the judiciary and Home Office. 'He [Judge Cottle] didn't like John Reid interfering and he just made a point. Unfortunately, Ilsington and that chap got caught up in the middle. 'At the end of the day nobody gives a monkey's stuff about the community as a whole.'
