A children’s mental health counsellor who once boasted of his life as a man with multiple partners has been jailed for rape.
Morgan Prior, 33, was convicted of sexual assault of one former partner and the oral rape of another following a week-long trial at the High Court in Dundee.
Four other rape and sexual assault charges brought against him were found not proven by majority.
Prior was told by a judge: “It is not remotely possible a non-custodial sentence will follow.”
The jury – nine men and six women – had been released to deliberate the case on Friday afternoon and took until Monday to reach a verdict.
Two women, believed to be Prior’s current partners, wept as he was cuffed and led to the cells before being taken to prison following his conviction.
Wearing a dark suit, his greying hair tied in a ponytail, the self-professed “men’s rights activist” blew each a kiss as he was taken into custody.
Prison inevitable
Defence solicitor advocate Marco Guarino made a motion for Prior’s bail to be continued, which was refused.
Judge William Gallacher said: “It is not remotely possible a non-custodial sentence will follow.”
Prior, who takes part in historical re-enactments, had been released on bail following his appearance on petition at Dundee Sheriff Court in February 2021.
He told the court during his trial he worked as a counsellor for the Place2Be organisation.
The company said he has been “summarily dismissed”.
Prior was found guilty of committing his first sexual assault between October 1 and 31 2010, at a house on Blackness Street, Dundee.
He removed his ex-partner’s clothing, seized her by the buttocks, seized her legs, pinned her to a bed and made sexual remarks to her while repeatedly touching her legs, without consent.
He raped another woman, at the same address, between December 1 and 31 in 2010, pinning her to the bed with his legs.
Registration requirements
Addressing Prior, Judge Gallacher said: “You have been convicted on two charges, which will have an inevitable outcome.
“At this stage you will be subject to the requirements of the Sex Offenders Register.
“The length of time you will be subject to this notification requirement will be determined in light of your sentence.
“I cannot allow you to maintain your liberty, you will likely face a lengthy period in custody.”
Prior, of Wards Avenue, Carnoustie, will return to the High Court in Glasgow for sentencing on July 18.
On the morning of his conviction, Prior linked to the BBC documentary about his part in polyamorous relationships and commented he had “no regrets” and was the “happiest he had ever been”.
Polyamorous people are in open intimate or romantic relationships with more than one person at a time.
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