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| Judge 'had to bail sex offender' | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A judge has said he had to bail a paedophile rather than remand him in custody because of overcrowded jails. | |
| Keith Morris, 46, of Ilsington, Newton Abbot, admitted four offences involving children at Exeter Crown Court. | Keith Morris, 46, of Ilsington, Newton Abbot, admitted four offences involving children at Exeter Crown Court. |
| Home Secretary John Reid wrote to judges and magistrates this week asking them to imprison only the most dangerous and persistent criminals. | Home Secretary John Reid wrote to judges and magistrates this week asking them to imprison only the most dangerous and persistent criminals. |
| Judge Graham Cottle said if the case had been held last week he would have sent Morris to prison. | Judge Graham Cottle said if the case had been held last week he would have sent Morris to prison. |
| He adjourned sentencing for a pre-sentence report, which could take up to two weeks. | He adjourned sentencing for a pre-sentence report, which could take up to two weeks. |
| If this case had been here last week it would have been over by now and he would be in Exeter Prison Judge Graham Cottle | If this case had been here last week it would have been over by now and he would be in Exeter Prison Judge Graham Cottle |
| The judge said he had to release Morris on bail following the home secretary's remarks. | The judge said he had to release Morris on bail following the home secretary's remarks. |
| He said: "There are difficulties remanding people in custody at the moment and the only reason I am having any discussion about this is because of those difficulties. | He said: "There are difficulties remanding people in custody at the moment and the only reason I am having any discussion about this is because of those difficulties. |
| "If this case had been here last week it would have been over by now and he would be in Exeter Prison." | "If this case had been here last week it would have been over by now and he would be in Exeter Prison." |
| He told Morris: "Because of the rather unusual circumstances in operation at the moment I am going to release you on bail. | He told Morris: "Because of the rather unusual circumstances in operation at the moment I am going to release you on bail. |
| "The fact that I am granting you bail does not mean that you will receive anything other than a custodial sentence. | "The fact that I am granting you bail does not mean that you will receive anything other than a custodial sentence. |
| "There is no safe or sensible alternative to a prison sentence." | "There is no safe or sensible alternative to a prison sentence." |
| He added that Morris would be subject to a curfew from 0800 to 1700 GMT. | He added that Morris would be subject to a curfew from 0800 to 1700 GMT. |
| Morris admitted three offences of causing a person under 16 to engage in sexual activity without consent, and one of sexual activity with a child under 16. | Morris admitted three offences of causing a person under 16 to engage in sexual activity without consent, and one of sexual activity with a child under 16. |
| He was arrested after complaints were made about his sex activities with a teenage boy at a house in Torquay. | He was arrested after complaints were made about his sex activities with a teenage boy at a house in Torquay. |
| He has previous convictions for sex offences against young boys and admitted to police that he had "a problem with children", and was "attracted to young boys". | He has previous convictions for sex offences against young boys and admitted to police that he had "a problem with children", and was "attracted to young boys". |
| The judge did not fix a date for adjournment. | The judge did not fix a date for adjournment. |
| Commenting on the Exeter case, shadow home secretary David Davis said: "People who are clearly guilty of serious offences should not escape custody. | Commenting on the Exeter case, shadow home secretary David Davis said: "People who are clearly guilty of serious offences should not escape custody. |
| "But, yet again - as a consequence of the government's failure - this is what is happening." | "But, yet again - as a consequence of the government's failure - this is what is happening." |