A rapist was caught by police after footage of him attacking a woman was secretly filmed on a baby monitor.
Connor Pennell was finally caught after officers found the horrifying footage which had been saved onto his phone.
Pennell, who was labeled as ‘extremely dangerous’ and ‘misogynistic’ by authorities, confidently claimed his innocence and assured the police that evidence from his phone records would prove his innocence.
However the hard to watch footage actually showed the violent sex offender raping his victim.
The 27-year-old has been sentenced to nine-and-a-half years in prison after being convicted of violating a restraining order, committing rape, engaging in controlling and coercive behavior, non-fatal strangulation, and three counts of voyeurism at Bolton Crown Court.
He will be placed on the Sex Offenders Register and has an indefinite restraining order on the victim.
Concerns were initially raised back in July 2024 in Wigan, Greater Manchester, when officers spoke to the woman who feared for her life.
He was charged with battery and strangulation, and a protection from harassment order was put in place.
Violent sex offender Connor Pennell was finally caught after officers found the horrifying footage which had been safed unto his phone
But this did not deter him, and he went on to use controlling and coercive behaviour, became abusive in person and on text.
He also threatened to release intimate images of the victim if she reported him for breaching the harassment order.
Once arrested and interviewed, Pennell pleaded his innocence and told another version of events, bragging that his phone records would exonerate him.
But when investigators began to retrieve data from his device, the opposite came to light.
He had deliberately recorded many sordid acts on a baby monitor, which the victim was completely unaware of.
On one occasion, the victim thought she was going to die after the thug, of Vines Cross Way, Skelmersdale, Lancs, strangled her.
During the court proceedings, the victim’s impact statement was presented, revealing that prior to encountering Connor, she was a jovial, outgoing, self-assured, faithful young woman with a circle of close friends and a loving family. She had a life filled with prospects and a promising future.
‘He stripped pretty much every aspect of my life away and has changed the course of my future.
‘I’m not the same person I was.
The 27-year-old has now been jailed for nine-and-a-half years at Bolton Crown Court
‘Connor made me re-live it all, sitting in this court, surrounded by strangers watching videos of myself in an extremely personal state that haunts me.
‘I have flashbacks of everything he has done to me and flashbacks of the trial.
‘I hope that sentencing will help other Victims of Domestic violence and sexual crimes come forward and show them that their voices will be heard, and that justice will be served.
‘It’s a long road to recovery because once the abuse stops it doesn’t mean it’s over, survivors always say the bruises disappear but the mental aspect of it takes much longer and they are right, so I am relearning to love myself.
‘I will not let him take any more of me. Connor is a danger to women and children, and I pray that today’s sentencing reflects how powerful it is what one man’s damage can cause.’
On Pennell being put behind bars, Detective Constable Amy Stewart from Greater Manchester Police’s Wigan district, said: ‘Pennell had a complete disregard for women and is an extremely dangerous individual.
‘The bravery of the victim in coming forward and then having the confidence and belief in us to be able to support a prosecution will hopefully help her as she tries to rebuild her life after what was a horrific time for her, with Pennell now facing the consequences.
‘His misogynistic attitude towards women was clear for all to see in the end once we uncovered the shocking and disturbing evidence.
‘I want to stress the importance to anyone out there who may be in a controlling relationship to please, when possible, to reach out and speak to us as we can help and ensure you receive the necessary support.
‘No life should be overshadowed by those who are intent on causing unnecessary and traumatic abuse.’
