JOHN WILLIAM CONNELLY

YORK MAN JAILED FOR ‘COWARDLY AND TERRIFYING’ ATTACK ON CITY STREET

A man has been sentenced to five years in prison for a brutal assault that resulted in his victim having a seizure on the road.

John William Connelly, aged 41, broke a restraining order by approaching his former partner and her current partner, and then violently attacking the latter.

He was identified as having repeatedly punched and kicked the victim while shouting at his ex-partner to "go to work".

The attack only ceased when two nearby council workers intervened, compelling Connelly to halt and leave the scene.

The victim was rendered unconscious and transported to hospital by ambulance, where he remained for 24 hours.

The incident occurred on Kingsway West in York on April 8, less than three weeks after Connelly was issued a restraining order prohibiting contact with his ex-partner.

Connelly was arrested shortly afterwards and pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent and breaching the restraining order.

The court sentenced him to five years in prison.

During the hearing, his ex-partner provided a victim impact statement, describing the lasting trauma and the fears she and her partner continue to experience, including ongoing anxiety and trauma from the attack and the victim’s ongoing health issues.

Detective Alex Dorlin commented on the case, emphasizing Connelly's blatant disregard for the restraining order and the danger posed by his actions, stating: “The victim was knocked unconscious, and the situation could have been far worse without the courageous actions of two nearby council workers.

Restraining orders exist to shield individuals from harm and prevent unwanted contact – violating them is a serious offence, along with deliberately causing serious physical injury to another person, as reflected in Connelly’s sentence.

This was a terrifying ordeal for both victims, and I hope today’s outcome offers them some measure of reassurance.”