CONNOR FARREN SENTENCED IN HULL FOR SEXUAL OFFENSE AND BURGLARIES
Justice caught up with Connor Farren, 21, a sex offender from Withernsea, nearly two months after he fled during his trial for drunkenly groping a woman.Farren abruptly left Hull Crown Court in December but surrendered to police this week after recognizing officers nearby on the street.
Farren was originally charged with sexually assaulting a vulnerable woman after offering to 'show her a good time,' which she refused.
The incident occurred when he knocked on her door just after midnight on December 3, 2019.
Prior to this, he had been stealing beer from a shop and breaking into a car in Withernsea.
The court heard that Farren knew the woman’s address because he had been there before, as a man he knew lived at that address.
Judge Mark Bury stated, "You knocked on her back door and you were essentially looking for somewhere to stay that night because you had been committing offences." Although the woman was in her pyjamas and felt it was bedtime, Farren pressed on.
He touched her breasts over her pyjamas while she was at the back door, threatened to steal her property, and then knocked on the front door, causing her to open it out of concern.
Once inside, he sat down and began stroking her leg, prompting her to threaten to scream if he didn't leave.
Eventually, Farren left, but the woman was left suffering flashbacks and nightmares, as the judge highlighted.
Farren was convicted in his absence by a jury on a majority verdict of 10 to 2, despite denying the sexual assault.
The court also found that Farren had committed additional crimes, including burglary, theft of an electrical tester, and interference with a vehicle.
His other admitted crimes included stealing a four-pack of Stella Artois from a shop, breaking into a shed to take a leaf blower, stealing a tin of Cuprinol, and failing to surrender to bail.
Mitigating solicitor Stephen Robinson explained that Farren had fled the trial due to panic and a desire to see his family over Christmas.
Mr.
Robinson noted that Farren had always denied the sexual assault but admitted to other offences that night.
At the time, Farren was struggling with alcohol and drug dependency, including illegal possession of diazepam, which contributed to his spiraling life.
He attempted to start anew in Scarborough, where he was spotted by police while in a car.
Recognizing officers, he voluntarily identified himself as wanted.
Farren was sentenced to two years in prison, ordered to register as a sex offender for seven years, and given a two-year restraining order.
