Yahoo News Hull pensioner found guilty of befriending families in Kenya in order to sexually abuse children
A pensioner who established himself as a ‘trusted figure’ among families in rural Kenya has been convicted of child sex offences.
Locksmith Keith Morris repeatedly took local children from a village in Kilifi County, Kenya, away on trips, staying with them in hotel rooms and buying them presents, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said.
Giving evidence via video link, one young victim told Leeds Crown Court how the 72-year-old had done ‘bad things’ to her when they stayed in a hotel together.
Morris, of Hull, had been visiting the village with his family for a number of years, and had supported locals by paying for medical treatment and education, the NCA added.
Inquiries were made by the NCA and Kenyan National Police after another British national staying in the country had reported his inappropriate behaviour, which is said to have taken place between January 2016 and February 2017.
On Tuesday, he was convicted several sex offences against children and two counts of perverting the course of justice, the NCA said.
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Graham Ellis, NCA operations manager, said: ‘Keith Morris spent many years integrating himself into the local community in Kenya, making him a trusted figure to people that lived there. He then abused this trust in the worst possible way.
‘Not only did he sexually abuse and rape vulnerable children but he attempted to manipulate and bribe them into helping him prove his innocence.
‘Thankfully, those attempts failed and due to his victims’ courage Morris now faces significant jail time for his horrific crimes.’
Morris is due to be sentenced at Leeds Crown Court on July 17.
