September 2017: Now living in Dufftown, Moray. The house is approx 300m from a school and less than 25m from a playing field regularly used by children

September 2009

Lewis sex offender is jailed for abusing young girl

Donald Morrison abused his victim more than 100 times over seven years.

An island sex offender who abused a young girl around 100 times has been sent to jail for three and a half years.

Donald Neil Morrison has also been placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

On Wednesday, Stornoway Sheriff Court heard that the 48-year-old married man targeted the girl over seven years on Lewis.

He commenced a long running catalogue of sexual abuse against his young victim.

She was an infant when it started and the abuse only stopped when he had progressed to more “legitimate relationships” the court heard.

Morrison previously pleaded guilty to using lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour on various occasions between January 1977 until December 1983.

On Wednesday, Sheriff Jamie Gilchrist referred to a background report and said Morrison “treated the child as a sexual object for gratification numerous times”.

He told Morrison his victim was “little more than a baby when you began to prey on her. You preyed on her in an appalling way throughout her childhood. Her life continues to be damaged and may well be damaged him into the future.”

The Sheriff was given a document which outlined the abuse committed by Morrison.

His victim estimated the abuse happened about 100 times. Morrison accepted it occurred “a lot of times” perhaps once every three or four weeks. The girl was “significantly frightened” to get help after Morrison was said to have warned her she would “be in big trouble.”

Even as an adult – the effect of the abuse badly hit her health and she was on medication, drank excessively, suffered from depression and panic attacks. Morrison hails from the Back area of Lewis and lived in Stornoway until the offences were reported to police earlier this year when he moved to Inverness.

His lawyer said: “No possible explanation can be provided today for that course of criminal conduct.” He said Morrison “wanted to make clear his regret” to his victim and her family.

The court was told his client had to leave the island and intends to sell a property on Lewis he inherited from his mother. His 17 year marriage had broken up and he had very little or no contact with his own children.