'Ideal foster parent' was secret paedophile who gave 'sex lessons' to three girls in his care

A man seen as the 'ideal' foster parent by social services was a secret paedophile who sexually abused girls in his care for years.

Kenneth Morton, 58, fooled his wife and family, who had no idea he was sexually assaulting the three vulnerable children when left alone with them.

He was jailed for 12 years at Sheffield Crown Court yesterday after admitting the systematic abuse of two girls aged 11 and a 13-year-old at his home over a five-year period.

He pleaded guilty to 11 offences, including attempted rape and indecent assault.

Morton told his victims he was giving them lessons in sex and said to one: 'You have got to learn how to pleasure a man.'

He even got one of the girls to act as a lookout so he could abuse one of the others uninterrupted.

On paper Morton and his wife seemed well suited to being foster carers. As a father of three and grandfather he had many years of experience with children and did not have a criminal record.

After being approved by social services he was an official foster carer for ten years. But for at least half of this period he was abusing girls entrusted to live with him.

Passing sentence Judge Alan Goldsack QC said his offending fell into the 'most serious' category.

Instead of bringing security and stability to his victims' lives Morton had breached that trust, he said.

The judge told Morton: 'You with your wife were seen as the ideal foster carers but a few years ago you started abusing girls around 11 who were placed into your care.

This was sustained and serious offending on an escalating scale. Your victims did not give consent. They were powerless to stop you.'

As Morton was being sentenced he collapsed in the dock and had to be helped to his seat by prison officers.

The carpenter from Rotherham was put on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely and made subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order which bars him from any unsupervised contact with children.

Prosecutor Fiona Swain said one girl, who was abused when 11, complained to Morton's granddaughter but at the time she was not believed.

Another girl, also 11, referred to the couple as 'nana and grandad.' Morton started showing her pornographic films 'to teach her about sex' and told her not to tell his wife Patricia. Police later found 13 porn discs in the house.

Mrs Swain told the court: 'His excuse was that he didn't want her to get any babies at 13 or 14 like other foster children.'

Morton repeatedly assaulted her and twice attempted to rape her in the kitchen and living room.

He was arrested in March this year after one of the girls reported him to the granddaughter, who told her mother, who called the police.

Morton admitted two attempted rapes, two indecent assaults, indecency with a child, four sex assaults and causing a child to watch a sex act.

Tim Savage, defending, said Morton was a heavy drinker and the offences occurred when this habit spiralled out of control. He said: 'He feels shame for what he has done and feels remorse for his victims and his own family.'

Outside court, Detective Constable Rob Platts said: 'His wife and the rest of Morton's family had absolutely no idea this was taking place. He went to great lengths to conceal his activities in the home.

'The effect on the girls was horrific. These girls were vulnerable and trusted him and placed into his care. They have been distressed and upset by the whole experience.'

A spokesman for Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council said foster carers were closely supervised and received a visit from a social worker once every six weeks as a 'minimum'.