Christian Morse (Image: Gwent Police)
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A registered sex offender who deliberately and persistently broke two court orders imposed to control his movements and behaviour has been handed a suspended prison sentence.
Christian Morse, 52, from Newport, was originally sentenced to five years behind bars in 2016 after a jury found him guilty of sexual activity with a child under 16 and inciting a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity, offences relating to the grooming and sexual abuse of an underage teenage girl.
Following his conviction, Morse was placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely and made subject to a sexual harm prevention order with no end date.
Breaching the orders
Between April 1, 2024 and October 11, 2025, Morse broke the terms of both orders, Cardiff Crown Court heard.
Prosecutor Hannah Head told the court the offending had been “deliberate and persistent”. Morse had stayed at his new partner’s home on more than 20 occasions when he was prohibited from doing so and had unsupervised contact with a child under the age of 16.
He had also taken a caravan holiday without notifying police of an address where he had stayed for seven days or longer within a 12-month period, as required under his obligations.
Morse admitted the breaches.
Mitigation
His barrister, Julia Cox, told the court: “He struggles with his health and is waiting for a hip replacement.”
She added: “He realises the seriousness of the breaches of court orders.”
Miss Cox also noted her client was self-employed and earning approximately £1,000 a week.
Sentencing
Judge Vanessa Francis told Morse: “This was something an intelligent and articulate man such as yourself should not have been doing.”
She continued: “You take the view that this is a salutary lesson for you.”
The judge added: “You describe this as a painful and sobering experience which I’m sure it must have been.”
Morse was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for 21 months. He must also complete 150 hours of unpaid work and a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement, along with paying a £187 victim surcharge and £150 in costs.
