Five years jail for Morris Leonard Deale for multiple counts of indecent assault

A 38-year-old Busselton businessman has been jailed for five years for sexually assaulting victims after drinking with them until they fell asleep. On November 7, Morris Leonard Deale was found guilty of 12 offences of unlawful and indecent assault committed against seven victims in the District Court of Western Australia. The court was told Deale’s offending occurred at various Busselton locations between 2012 and 2019, when Deale was said to be socialising with a group of much younger males. Much of the socialising took place at various houses Deale owned or lived in during those years. Deale’s victims usually stayed overnight at his house, where he supplied alcohol to his guests, regardless of whether they were legally entitled to drink. The victims reported that they awoke to find Deale in, or on the bed with them, and touching them inappropriately. District Court Judge Christian frequently rejected Deale’s account of the offences, and his belief that his victims had given consent to his actions. The judge determined that Deale’s offending was not out of character, as it was both persistent and occurred over a long period of time. Victim impact statements submitted to the court show the seven victims have all been traumatised by their experience. The counsel for defence had said that Deale was sorry, and has displayed some degree of victim empathy. However in summing up DCJ Christian said it was difficult for her to conclude that Deale has shown true remorse. DCJ Christian also noted that Deale has not taken any steps towards rehabilitation, although he has indicated a willingness to do so. Deale who is married with two children aged three and one, was born in South Africa and moved to Busselton with his parents and three siblings in around 1998. The turf farm business Deale started with his father still operates and employs people full-time. Deale will need to serve at least three years of his five-year imprisonment before he becomes eligible for parole.