PAUL O’CONNOR FROM TORQUAY JAILED FOR ABUSING NINE-YEAR-OLD GIRL DESPITE PAST CONVICTION
In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Torquay, Paul O’Connor, a 30-year-old man with a troubling criminal history, has been sentenced to prison for the sexual abuse of a nine-year-old girl.The incident unfolded despite O’Connor’s efforts to conceal his past, which included a previous conviction for engaging in sexual activity with a minor.
According to court proceedings, O’Connor entered into a relationship with a woman from Torbay without disclosing his criminal background.
He failed to reveal that he had previously served time in jail for having sexual relations with a 14-year-old girl in Taunton.
His partner, unaware of his history, trusted him and allowed him to stay overnight at her residence, where she was caring for her friend’s twin daughters during weekends.
On one such occasion, O’Connor stayed in the same house as the young girls, despite being under a court order that explicitly prohibited him from having any contact with children.
The court heard that during the night, O’Connor committed a grave sexual assault.
He climbed into bed with one of the girls while she was sleeping and, in a disturbing act, placed his hand inside her underwear.
This assault took place in the middle of the night, and the girl was awakened by his actions.
Judge David Evans presided over the case at Exeter Crown Court, where O’Connor pleaded guilty to charges of sexual assault on a child and breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO).
The judge sentenced him to three years and six months in prison.
During the sentencing, Judge Evans expressed his outrage at O’Connor’s conduct, stating, “Your girlfriend was blissfully unaware of your past.
She was absolutely mortified when she learned the true nature of your background.” The judge further emphasized the gravity of the offense, noting that O’Connor had stayed overnight with his partner on multiple occasions when the children were present.
He recounted an incident where, after consuming excessive alcohol, O’Connor entered the bedroom where the girls were sleeping while his partner was asleep.
One girl woke up as he entered, and the other girl was found to be the victim of his assault.
Judge Evans highlighted that the assault was particularly serious given O’Connor’s prior conviction and his blatant disregard for the court-ordered restrictions.
“You took advantage of a sleeping girl, hoping to get away with it,” he remarked, underscoring the breach of trust and the damage inflicted on the young victim’s sense of safety and innocence.
Prosecutor Joss Pinehurst detailed how O’Connor had concealed his criminal record from his new partner.
Despite her taking on the responsibility of babysitting her friend’s twin daughters during overnight visits, O’Connor did not disclose his conviction or the fact that he was prohibited from unsupervised contact with children.
The night of the assault, he was sleeping in a different room but got up when his partner was asleep, entered the girls’ room, and committed the assault.
Defense attorney Kevin Hopper argued that O’Connor has been assessed as suitable for a community-based sex offenders’ program, which he claimed would provide better long-term protection for the public than a prison sentence.
However, the court’s decision reflected the seriousness of the offense and the need to protect children from individuals with a history of sexual misconduct.
O’Connor’s criminal history includes a conviction from July 2009 at Taunton Crown Court, where he was jailed for engaging in sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl after giving her alcohol.
This prior conviction underscores the gravity of his actions and the importance of strict supervision and legal restrictions to prevent further harm to vulnerable children.
