Posing as a cheerleader: deputy head accused of aiding rape of a child
POSING as a high-school cheerleader, this is the deputy head teacher of a primary school who has been charged with aiding the rape of a young girl.
Parents of pupils at St George’s Central Church of England Primary near Wigan spoke of their shock after learning that Julie Morris had been remanded in custody charged with facilitating the rape of a child under 13.
The 44-year-old – one of three child protection officers in charge of safeguarding at the school – also posed in an Alice In Wonderland outfit for the school’s prospectus. Her cheerleader photograph was posted on social media.
The school last week sent a letter to the parents of pupils explaining the seriousness of the offences faced by Ms Morris, who was also the maths and religious education lead at the 340-pupil school, where she had taught for nearly a decade.
Many who collected children from the school gates on Friday expressed support for the deputy head. One mother said: ‘All my children have gone to this school and to say I’m shocked is an understatement. I really hope it’s not true. It’s sad the school has been dragged into it.’
Another said: ‘I’ve nothing bad to say about her. The charges are very serious and what makes it more shocking is that she is a deputy head in charge of young children.
‘In my mind it’s innocent until proven guilty.’
Detectives for Merseyside Police said the alleged offences did not relate to Ms Morris’s work at the school in Tyldesley, Greater Manchester. Ms Morris has been suspended by Wigan Council pending the outcome of the case. Her LinkedIn profile, which was taken down last week, stated that she had studied psychology at Lancaster University and had a qualification from Edge Hill University.
Her neighbours on a quiet housing estate in Hindley, near Wigan, expressed their shock. One said: ‘She is our neighbour and friend. It must be an awful time for her family and we didn’t have any idea. All we can do is wait for the trial and see what happens.’
Ms Morris has also been charged with inciting sexual activity with a child under 13.
She was charged alongside David Morris, 52, of Eccleston, near St Helens on Merseyside, who faces three counts of rape of a girl under 13 and inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity.
The pair share a surname but are understood to not be married or related. Both were remanded in custody last week until their appearance at Liverpool Crown Court next month.