An ambulance first responder who repeatedly raped a young boy after grooming him in uniform and showering him with gifts has been jailed.
James Morrison appeared at Winchester Crown Court today (Monday) having previously pleaded guilty to seven sexual offences, including four counts of rape.
Prosecutor Alexander Bull said the defendant befriended a 13-year-old boy in 2022, who he knew through friends – before claiming he was in love with him.
The police were contacted after Morrison’s then-boyfriend discovered messages to the victim. One read: “I love you more than my partner”.
He told officers that the 31-year-old would share a bed with the boy and spend significant amounts of money on showering him with gifts.
When the youngster was interviewed by the police, he revealed that he had been raped and sexually abused by the defendant over a five-week period.
He said that Morrison had threatened to kill himself or hand himself into the police – saying the victim was to blame – and always said he loved him.
In a personal statement, the victim told of how the abuse started when the defendant added him on Snapchat – and it became “very intense”.
The boy said that Morrison was “so controlling over everything I did” and he would “threaten to report my family to social services and my siblings would be removed from my parents”.
The court heard that the defendant, who was volunteer first responder for South Western Ambulance Service in Wiltshire, would often spend time with the boy wearing his uniform.
The victim’s mother said that “James has taken away my little boy, my innocent little boy”, adding that “this monster had taken so much away from us and our family”.
Jodie Mittell, defending, said her client “does not wish to contest anything that has been said by [the victim] or his family”, adding that he recognises he faces a lengthy prison term.
She told the court that Morrison, from Trowbridge, asked to be remanded in custody when he entered his guilty pleas so that he could start his sentence.
Ms Mittell said that he “indicated a willingness to engage” in prison – having completed a Level 2 qualification in English.
Judge Adam Feest KC, in his judgement, declared Morrison a dangerous offender posing a significant risk to the public, especially 13-year-old boys.
He handed him a sentence of 19 years and four months – comprising of 13 years and four months in prison and six years on extended licence.
Judge Feest said the defendant’s crimes were “motivated by your own sexual desires underpinned by a sexual interest in children”.
Morrison was told to register as a sex offender for life and slapped with an Indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
