The family of former prison officer Lenny Scott says their lives have been shattered after he was brutally murdered in what police described as a cold-blooded act of revenge.
His mother, Paula Scott, spoke after the sentencing, saying her son “lost his life standing up for what was right” and that justice had finally been served—though no sentence could ever bring him back.
The Attack That Claimed His Life
On February 8, 2024, the 33-year-old father of three was leaving a gym in Skelmersdale, Lancashire, when a man in a high-visibility jacket walked up carrying a handgun.
Within moments, Scott was shot once in the head and five times in the body. He died at the scene.
A Threat Years in the Making
The gunman was identified as 35-year-old Elias Morgan, a former inmate at HMP Altcourse in Liverpool.
Years earlier, in March 2020, Scott had discovered a phone hidden in Morgan’s cell.
That phone exposed a forbidden sexual relationship between Morgan and prison officer Sarah Williams.
Morgan begged Scott to cover it up, even offering him £1,500 to “mess up the paperwork.”
But Scott refused, choosing to report the discovery as procedure required.
That decision would eventually cost him his life.
Promises of Revenge
After Scott refused the bribe, Morgan began making threats, targeting not only him but also his family.
He warned that their home would be blown up and made a chilling gun gesture, promising, “I’ll bide my time.”
From that moment on, Morgan’s determination to exact revenge was clear.
From Prison Cell to Deadly Plot
Both Morgan and Williams were prosecuted over the phone incident.
Williams later admitted to misconduct and misuse of computer systems in 2023.
Morgan, meanwhile, denied wrongdoing and continued to clash with the justice system.
Detectives later revealed that once released, Morgan spent weeks tracking Scott’s routine.
He studied his movements, waited for the right moment, and then executed the attack with a 9mm handgun before fleeing on an electric scooter.
The weapon was never recovered.
A Cold-Blooded Execution
At trial, prosecutors called the killing a “carefully planned revenge attack.”
The jury agreed, convicting Morgan after a nine-week hearing.
Last Friday, Mr Justice Goose sentenced him to 45 years in prison before he can even be considered for parole.
Morgan’s co-accused, 29-year-old Anthony Cleary from Liverpool, was cleared of murder and manslaughter.
Loved Ones Speak Out
Paula Scott, speaking outside court, described her son as strong, hardworking, and deeply devoted to his children.
“He was proudest of his three children—they were his world,” she said.
“He spent every moment he could with them, making them feel safe and loved.”
She also condemned Morgan as a man with “no regard for the impact of his actions,” adding that her family’s future had been stolen.
Police Condemnation
Detective Chief Inspector Lee Wilson called the murder “a vengeful and cold-blooded assassination,” saying it was one of the most inhumane acts he had seen in three decades of service.
He praised Scott as “a man of integrity” who resisted bribes and threats, even when it put him in danger.
“It was this that cost him his life,” Wilson said, adding that Morgan was nothing more than a “small, cowardly, evil” individual who carried out a heartless execution.
The Memory That Remains
For Scott’s family and friends, the sentence offers some closure but little comfort.
They remember him as a man full of laughter, humour, and warmth—a man who lit up every room he entered.
Most of all, they remember him as a proud father whose children adored him.
As his mother said through tears, “We will never forget you, and we will always be proud of you. We love you.”