A man who callously orchestrated a deplorable act of sexual violence against a woman in a hotel room has been handed a 10-year prison sentence, despite currently being at large.
David Morrison, the perpetrator, was found guilty of rape and sexual assault by a jury in August. However, Morrison failed to show up in court on October 24 to hear the verdict, leading to a bench warrant being issued for his arrest.
During the trial at Teesside Crown Court, it was revealed that Morrison had coerced another man to engage in sexual activity with the victim before assaulting her himself. Morrison callously laughed and instructed the man to fulfill his twisted desires, causing immense distress to the woman.
Despite the victim’s clear resistance and pleas for him to stop, Morrison proceeded to rape her after the other man left the room. The victim, whose identity remains protected, expressed the profound impact of the assault in a powerful statement to the court.
Morrison, a 44-year-old with no prior criminal record, was described as an accomplished engineer. His defense highlighted his troubled upbringing and neglect as contributing factors to his actions.
In light of the severity of the crimes, Morrison was sentenced to a decade in prison. An indefinite restraining order was imposed to prevent him from contacting the victim, and he will be required to register as a sex offender upon his apprehension.
The court emphasized the gravity of Morrison’s actions and the lasting trauma inflicted upon the victim. Despite his absence during the sentencing, the law will ensure justice is served once he is apprehended.