A Lurgan man who subjected a woman to a “truly sickening” campaign of physical and sexual abuse was also found to have indecent child images on his phone and a telescope in his home trained on a local primary school.
Warren Jonathan Conn (50) from Kings Park Mews, Lurgan was arrested on February 4 by PSNI on behalf of Kent Constabulary and flown to Heathrow Airport then charged and remanded in custody.
The following month he admitted 15 charges including multiple counts of rape which he filmed, as well as controlling and coercive behaviour.
This offending occurred on dates between August 2016 and July 2018 when he lived in England.
However, the second set of offences came to light when two phones were found to contain multiple indecent images and videos of children in all categories of seriousness.
It further transpired Conn superimposed the face of a child known to him onto another image depicting serious sexual abuse.
Others showed “further sexual deviant practices, including babies being raped and children in indecent poses”.
A telescope in his home was trained on a local primary school and other items included an “infant sex doll and various children’s clothing ranging from babies to toddlers”.
Canterbury Crown Court heard the adult victim was in an abusive relationship with Conn but was too “petrified” to come forward at the time.
The recovered videos, described by prosecution counsel as “harrowing”, showed multiple instances of Conn forcing the victim to consume alcohol then raping her, while she begged him to stop.
Addressing Conn directly, Judge Edmund Fowler noted the victim, who was considerably younger, described, “sustained, deeply damaging conduct characterised by sexual violence, coercion, manipulation and controlling behaviour. Even when she expressed pain or illness, you ignored her and continued, sometimes becoming more forceful.”
Conn retained and controlled recordings, “refusing to allow her to delete them, asserting that they were proof of having sex, thereby degrading and humiliating her. Behaviour extended to intrusive surveillance and monitoring including secretly installing tracking software on her phone. She described grooming including use of gifts, emotional pressure, and threats of self-harm to maintain the relationship. She was isolated, her movements were controlled, her money was taken and intimidation, including aggression, was used. You threatened to disclose the videos to her family if she left.”
The judge said Conn’s conduct, “extended to sexual humiliation including making her wear clothing for a significantly younger appearance, such as school uniform, sexualised for your own gratification. This was calculated behaviour, actively creating vulnerability, disregarding her wishes and exerted control of her actions with persistent indifference. The level of degradation is truly sickening.”
The indecent images, said Judge Fowler, “eere most horrific in nature and so insidious, you currently pose a very high risk to adult females and children alike. You sought to minimise your behaviour, denying any sexual attraction to children, even when confronted with facts of the known child’s photo being superimposed onto an indecent image of another child. Your lack of insight contributes to my overall assessment of your being dangerous.”
Concluding, Judge Fowler said: “Your offending is indicative of a wholly distorted sexual belief system lacking any decent human empathy.”
Conn was sentenced to 19 years imprisonment, 14 of which will be served in custody and the remainder on licence.
He will be subject to Sexual Offender Registration and a Sexual Offences Prevention Order indefinitely.
Speaking afterwards, Detective Constable Joe Warner said: ‘This case shows that no matter how much time has passed, victims can still come forward, and they will be taken seriously.
“I commend the victim for her courage and her continued support throughout this complex investigation. Her bravery in reporting these horrific offences ensured that Conn was held accountable.”
