Family’s fury with Social Services
over child abuser
Dec 6 2007 by Sian Watts, Merthyr Express
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk
A HORRIFIED family have slammed social services after three girls were
sexually abused.
The mother of two of the victims spoke exclusively to the Express about the
ordeal.
The woman, of Merthyr Tydfil, who cannot be named for legal reasons, claims
she was told by the authorities that Mark William Morris was safe to be around
children, yet this week he was jailed for seven years for a catalogue of
sexual offences.
Morris showed no emotion as he was sentenced by Judge Phillip Richards at
Cardiff Crown Court, where a jury had convicted him a month ago of five counts
of indecency with a child and six counts of indecent assault.
He looked straight ahead as the judge told him: “People are rightly horrified
by such offences and the girls’ lives have been very much affected.”
Morris, aged 37, of Cherry Grove, Gurnos, Merthyr Tydfil, had denied the
allegations, forcing his victims to give evidence and be cross-examined.
They told the court he had touched them indecently, incited them to touch him
and performed sex acts on himself in front of one of them.
Morris was cleared of one charge of rape but found guilty of indecent assault
and inciting a child into sexual activity. His name will be on the Sex
Offenders’ Register for an indefinite period.
The family of two of the girls are now trying to put the terrifying events
behind them and move on, but they are furious as they feel they have been
“hounded” by social services and made to feel like they are the criminals.
The allegations came to light on New Year’s Day and the police were contacted
and the two girls, as well as their mother’s unborn baby, were immediately
placed on the Child Protection Register.
A family member said: “We feel like we were the ones on trial.”
For one thing, they cannot understand why the unborn baby had to be placed on
the protection register.
The father of the now nine-month-old baby, said: “When she was born I was
supposed to be happy.
“But I wasn’t, I couldn’t even change my own daughter’s nappy or be left alone
with her.
“People are looking at us like we are the abusers.
“It had nothing to do with me or my daughter.
“In years to come she is going to read things like that – what will she think?
“Social services have come into our life, and torn it apart. and left us with
no help.”
The family claim they were told the children did not need counselling for
their ordeal unless they started showing signs of anxiety or bad behaviour,
such as drug or alcohol-related problems.
They said: “We had to sort it out ourselves – they would not help us
whatsoever.”
A spokeswoman for Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council said it did not feel
it appropriate to breach the confidence of all the adults and children
involved by commenting on the specific matters reported.
She said: “Merthyr Tydfil CBC’s Integrated Children’s Services will of course
thoroughly investigate the concerns raised if the family would wish us to, in
line with our complaints procedures.
“The council, with its partners, takes seriously its obligations to safeguard
children at risk, and seeks to reduce future risk by working closely with
families and other agencies to ensure their needs are met effectively.”
The ordeal has caused friction and a lot of pain in the victims’ family.
One member said of Morris: “He is an animal – we hope they lock him up and
throw away the key.
“He was laughing in our faces.
“He was walking about with his head up, saying we were lying and getting on
with his life.”
The mother of the girls said: “We did not put anything into my daughters’
heads.
“That is what some people are saying. They are trying to say we are lying to
save their bacon.
“Who in the world would put stuff into their children’s heads?
“What sort of mother do they think I am? To insinuate that, they have to be as
sick as him.”
The family said the girls are now trying to move on and are looking forward to
Christmas.
Their mother said of the victims: “They get their days – one minute they are
OK and the next minute they are moody.
“We have to get on for them – new year, new start.”
The family wish to thank the police for their support throughout the case.
Dec 6 2007 by Sian Watts, Merthyr Express
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk
