The town of Skelmersdale was left reeling after Elias Morgan, a 35-year-old convicted armed robber, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 45 years for the murder of former prison officer Lenny Scott. The sentencing, which took place on September 2, 2025, at Preston Crown Court, brought to a close a harrowing saga that began with a meticulously planned act of revenge and ended with a family shattered by loss.
According to The Echo, the murder occurred on February 8, 2024, outside a gym on Peel Road in Skelmersdale. Scott, aged 33, was ambushed and shot six times at close range by Morgan, who wore a mask and an orange hi-vis jacket. The attack was not a random act of violence, but a calculated act of retaliation that had been brewing for nearly four years.
The motive behind the killing was rooted in events that took place during Morgan's incarceration at Altcourse prison. Scott, then a serving prison officer, had exposed an illicit affair between Morgan and a female prison guard. More crucially, Scott had seized an illegal mobile phone from Morgan's cell—a phone that contained evidence of the affair. When offered a £1,500 bribe to keep quiet, Scott stood firm, refusing to compromise his principles. Morgan, furious at being exposed and punished, warned Scott, "I'll bide my time, but I promise I will get you."
Detective Chief Inspector Lee Wilson described Scott as "a big strong kind man who paid the ultimate price" and Morgan as "a small cowardly evil individual" who murdered Scott in revenge for doing his duty. The murder, Wilson said, was a direct consequence of Scott's integrity and his refusal to turn a blind eye to wrongdoing behind bars.
The trial, which concluded with Morgan's unanimous conviction by an 11-person jury, was marked by emotional testimony and raw grief from Scott's family. The sentencing hearing began at 2pm, with Mr Justice Goose presiding. The judge noted the "high degree of particular seriousness" in the case, stating, "After careful planning you waited for Lenny Scott…you walked up to him and shot him with a handgun. You fired six shots at close range. He died as you escaped. The shooting was captured on CCTV."
Justice Goose made clear the gravity of Morgan's actions: "This was a revenge killing for what he did lawfully in his duty as a prison officer. The murder of the deceased has caused profound grief to his family and his young children. He was 33 with most of his life ahead of him. He was loved, respected and made them proud." The judge added that if Scott had still been a serving prison officer at the time of the murder, a whole life order—meaning Morgan would never be released—would have been imposed. Instead, the minimum term was set at 45 years, significantly above the 30-year starting point for murders involving firearms, due to the calculated and vengeful nature of the crime.
Throughout the proceedings, Scott's family and former partners gave powerful victim impact statements, painting a vivid picture of a man who was loving, funny, and above all, a devoted father and son. Scott's mother, Paula, addressed Morgan directly in court: "What gave you the right to murder my son? To take his life simply because he didn’t do what you wanted? You killed him for doing his job, for doing the right thing. You didn’t just murder my son, you inflicted a lifetime of pain on everyone who loved him. You brought trauma into our lives that none of us deserved, least of all Lenny." She continued, "You took his life in the most cowardly and callous way. You ambushed him without warning, using a weapon that he could never defend himself from. You didn’t give him a chance. My son was everything you are not. He was strong, brave, honest, respectful, hardworking, kind, and principled. He stood for what was right."
Paula Scott also recounted the agony of losing her only child, saying, "On the 8th of February 2024, my world shattered beyond repair, my one and only child, my son Lenny, was cruelly and senselessly murdered by Elias Morgan. The night Lenny was killed replays over and over in my mind." She described the moment she learned of her son's death and the lasting trauma it has brought: "Seeing the police outside, hearing the words that he had been murdered. This is a trauma that will never leave me. It changed everything. My life, my heart and my future."
Scott's father, Neil, echoed the devastation felt by the family, describing the physical and emotional toll the murder had taken. "My physical health has taken a hit due to this. I have lost all appetite for food. I now only eat very minimal just to get by, I have lost a considerable amount of weight," he revealed. He also spoke about the pain of seeing his son's character questioned during the trial, despite the lack of evidence supporting any wrongdoing on Scott's part.
The impact of Scott's death rippled out to his three children and their mothers. Lucy Griffiths, the mother of Scott's twin boys, described the heartbreaking task of telling her children that their father would never come home. "Telling the boys that their daddy had died was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. Seeing their little faces when telling them that daddy had died and they were never to see him again was so painful—it still is." She spoke of the nightmares and anxiety her boys have suffered, saying, "They have had nightmares about men chasing them with guns because of what's happened. As a result of this, I have become so anxious about something happening to my boys I don't feel safe going out anymore."
Lucy Carnhill, mother of Scott's young daughter, shared similar sentiments, expressing fears about her daughter's future and the pain of knowing that "she won’t grow and be able to make more memories with her daddy." Carnhill described the daily struggle to keep Scott's memory alive for their daughter and the overwhelming grief that has consumed her life since his murder.
The court heard that Morgan had five previous convictions for nine offences, including commercial burglary, conspiracy to rob, attempted robbery, and dangerous driving. Aggravating factors in the case included Morgan's careful planning, his use of an electric bike on a meticulously planned route, and his efforts to conceal his involvement after the shooting.
During sentencing, Morgan remained impassive, offering no mitigation or expression of remorse. His defense counsel told the court, "Absolutely nothing to be said on his behalf." The judge summed up the case as a "carefully planned, revenge killing of a prison officer," emphasizing that Scott was targeted for upholding his duty and principles.
As Skelmersdale tries to heal from this tragedy, the memory of Lenny Scott endures—not just as a victim, but as a man who stood up for what was right, a loving father, and a source of pride for his family. The sentence handed down to Elias Morgan offers a measure of justice, but for those who loved Scott, the loss remains immeasurable.
