Elias Morgan, 35, was jailed for a minimum of 45 years after being convicted of the murder of Lenny Scott, a prison officer. The case centred on a mobile phone found in Morgan’s cell at HMP Altcourse in Merseyside, which prosecutors said showed he was having a sexual relationship with a female officer. Morgan had first tried to bribe Mr Scott with £1,500 to destroy the phone; when the officer refused and reported the find, Morgan threatened his family and vowed revenge, telling him ‘I’ll bide my time’ and making a gun gesture.

Almost four years later the threat was carried out. On the evening of 8 February 2024, as Mr Scott was leaving a gym in Skelmersdale, Morgan fired a 9mm handgun, shooting once in the head and five times in the body before fleeing on an electric scooter. Mr Scott, described by relatives as a devoted father of twins and a young daughter, did not survive. Morgan sat impassively in the dock as personal statements from the victim’s family were read in court. Paula Scott, the slain officer’s mother, said: ‘You killed him for doing his job, for doing the right thing. You didn’t give him a chance. My son was everything you are not. He was strong, brave, honest, respectful, hardworking, kind and principled. You are a violent, inhumane coward.’

At a nine-week trial Morgan denied involvement but was found guilty of murder. He was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 45 years by Mr Justice Goose, who said: ‘This murder was a carefully planned revenge killing of a prison officer. He was loved, respected and made his family proud.’ Detectives said Morgan used phone and vehicle data to stalk Mr Scott and learn his daily routine in the weeks before the killing. Morgan’s co-accused, Anthony Cleary, was found not guilty of murder or manslaughter. Outside court, Detective Chief Inspector Lee Wilson called the killing ‘a vengeful and cold-blooded assassination’ and said it was among the most callous acts he had seen in his 30 years in policing.