RAYMOND CONNOR FROM DUFFIELD FACES JAIL AFTER SEXUAL ABUSE OF TWO YOUNG GIRLS IN DERBY

In July 2022, a disturbing case unfolded at Derby Crown Court involving Raymond Connor, a 92-year-old man from Duffield, who was accused of sexually abusing two young girls over a period of years. The court heard harrowing details of how Connor, a former military serviceman, engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with the victims when they were under the age of consent, causing lasting trauma.

Both victims, now adults, courageously appeared in court to confront their abuser and provide testimony about the profound impact the abuse had on their lives. Despite the passage of time, they had only recently come forward to report the incidents to the police, which led to Connor’s arrest and subsequent trial. Throughout the proceedings, Connor maintained his innocence, denying any allegations of misconduct, forcing the victims to relive their painful experiences as they recounted their stories in the witness box.

Prosecutor Claire Fraser read aloud powerful victim impact statements from the two women, who described the deep emotional scars left by Connor’s actions. One of the women expressed that she had been “completely robbed of her childhood” due to the abuse. She revealed that vivid memories of the incidents haunted her, and despite efforts to move on, she found it difficult to escape the mental torment. She emphasized her desire for justice, stating, “I do not feel sending Ray to prison is justice, I want to be heard, I want to tell my story. I want people to know how evil he is and I want people who have been through a similar situation to know they will get justice. This was not just simple abuse, it’s the mental torture that comes after.”

The court proceedings detailed how Connor, of Duffield, engaged in sexual touching and indecent acts with the two young girls, both of whom were below the age of consent at the time. After the victims reported the abuse to the police, Connor denied any wrongdoing, denying all allegations. However, the jury found him guilty of multiple charges, including indecent assault of a child under 16, gross indecency with a child under 14, sexual assault of a female, assault by penetration, and indecent assault of a female. It was noted that Connor had no previous criminal convictions.

In her victim impact statement, the second woman described her feelings of shame and disgust, stating, “It made me feel dirty and disgusting and it makes me feel sick even now. This man was a perfect man to the rest of the world, little did people know what he was really like. It never goes, it is in my head 24/7.” Her words underscored the lasting psychological damage inflicted by Connor’s actions.

Judge Nirmal Shant QC, the Honorary Recorder of Derby, presided over the case and announced that sentencing would take place on the following Monday. She warned Connor that he would likely face imprisonment, stating, “This is a case where you will lose your liberty.” As a precaution, she remanded him into custody over the weekend pending the sentencing hearing.