Chilling moment ex-inmate pulls gun before killing prison guard who exposed affair

This is the chilling moment a former inmate pulls a gun on a prison guard before shootinghim in the head and body six times.

Elias Morgan tracked down Lenny Scott after he was released and shot the father of three as he was leaving the gym in Skelmersdale, on February 8, last year. In the CCTV clip Morgan can be seen hanging around in the car park as Mr Scott comes out of the gym and stands chatting to friends.

Mr Scott had been working at HMP Altcourse when Morgan, 35, was serving time and found an illegal mobile phone in his cell. A nine-week trial at Preston Crown Court heard Morgan planned the killing after 33-year-old Mr Scott confiscated the phone which exposed Morgan’s illegal relationship with a female prison officer back in 2020.

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Morgan can be seen stepping forward and around some of the cars in the car park, he appears to be waiting to get a clear shot. He then pulls the gun and points it at Mr Scott, hitting him six times.

The court heard Mr Scott was working as a prison officer at HMP Altcourse in 2020 and recovered a mobile phone in Morgan's cell on March 26 that year. Morgan attempted to persuade Mr Scott not to submit the phone as he knew it contained information about an affair he was having with female prison officer Sarah Williams, the CPS said.

The trial heard Morgan even offered Mr Scott £1,500 to get rid of the phone, but when that didn't succeed, he turned to threats - and four years later, he shot the guard six times to his head and body before fleeing the scene on an electric bike.

During the trial, the relationship between the then-serving prisoner and the working guard was exposed. Williams' actions began a domino effect, with a court hearing in 2023 how she had relationships with multiple prisoners at HMP Altcourse after starting her job at the prison in early 2020.

The former prison officer, of Kingsway, Widnes, was found to have communicated with prisoners whose mobile phones were recovered in cell searches, with the investigation being referred to the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit's anti-corruption department. Officers arrested Williams at her home on July 8, 2020.

She was later charged with three counts of misconduct in a public office and one count of causing a computer to perform a function with intent to secure unauthorised access to data. She appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on December 21 where she was sentenced to 18 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to the four charges.

The trial heard Morgan threatened Mr Scott after he reported the illicit phone found. The inmate was reported to have told Mr Scott he would "bide his time" but he would "get him".

Wendy Logan, deputy head of CPS North West's complex casework unit, said: "Lenny Scott was a devoted father who had bravely upheld his duty when working as a prison officer by reporting an illicit phone he found in Elias Morgan's cell in 2020.

"He did so in the face of attempts at bribery and also threats and intimidation by Morgan – and his commitment to public service will not be forgotten. Morgan – driven by revenge and believing he was above the law – carried out a cold-blooded murder.

"We were determined to deliver justice and see Morgan brought to book for his evil crime – and our case set out in clear terms how he planned and carried out his callous act. Our thoughts remain with Lenny's family – particularly his three young children – and all those who cared for him as they deal with his loss."

Morgan is due to be sentenced later today.