Cruel and sadistic man branded risk to others
Chelmsford 6.15; Dollar Value won at 14-1, Chelmsford 6.45; Full Intention won at 12-1, Chelmsford 7.15; Rampant Lion loser, Chelmsford 7.45; It’s Not Unusual A SADIST tied up his ex, put socks in her mouth, held her captive, put a strap around her neck, sprayed deodorant in her eyes, stabbed her, hit her with a hammer and left her fearing she’d be murdered.
Richard O’Connor subjected the woman to a series of attacks that began within weeks of them beginning a relationship.
Having been bailed for assaulting her, he immediately defied a ban on contacting her and lured her to his home. Then, when someone arrived to fit a device to monitor his electronic curfew, he bound her hands and threatened to stab her.
Now the 43-year-old, who admitted false imprisonment and assault charges, has been branded a danger and locked up for more than seven years at Newcastle Crown Court.
Judge Penny Moreland told him: ”I regard your offending as cruel and sadistic. You told her she would not be able to leave alive. You pose a significant risk of serious harm to others.
“You have ruined her life, she says. She had to leave her home where she lived with her children and she is seriously mentally ill as a consequence of what you did to her.”
The court heard O’Connor, of Durham Street, Wallsend, began a relationship with the woman in October 2017 and soon showed his violent side.
In November, he carried out a sustained won at 8-1, Chelmsford 8.15; Victoria Drummond won at 14-1, Chelmsford 8.45.
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assault, punching and kicking her to the head and body.
In December, he armed himself with a knife, which he used to stab her in the thigh and he also punched and kicked her.
Then on December 28 he gripped her throat to the point she found it extremely hard to breathe – his justification being she had let him fall asleep on the settee and he woke up feeling cold.
On January 11 she plucked up the courage to tell him she’d had enough and was going to contact police. He responded by being abusive and making threats.
The woman did go to the police and O’Connor was arrested but on January 19 he was given bail at court.
That night he rang her from a phone number she didn’t recognise and apologised, told her he loved her and said she should not be frightened of him.
He asked her to go to his home and she refused but he then persuaded her.
When she got there he turned nasty again, saying she shouldn’t have reported him to the police. Things then took a more sinister turn when workmen turned up to install his electronic tag equipment.
Prosecutor Jonathan Devlin said: “He told her he couldn’t take any chances, took her to the bathroom, tied her hands and put socks in her mouth.
“He produced a large kitchen knife, pointing it towards her and said, ‘There’s no need to be frightened, I love you, but if you let them know you’re here I will stab them then I will stab you.’”
She was at the flat for the next three days different events.
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but O’Connor pleaded guilty on the basis she was not held captive for the entire period. At times he was calm and caring but at others, he was violent.
Mr Devlin said: “He said he was not going back to jail. He put a strap from her bag around her neck and choked her, sprayed deodorant in her eyes, hit her legs with a hammer and spat in her face, calling her names. By this time she had given up and thought she was going to die.”
The ordeal ended when O’Connor’s daughter arrived and persuaded him to take her home, the court heard.
On the journey he repeatedly threatened to kill her if she contacted the police.
The court heard O’Connor has a history of violence among his 39 previous convictions, including an attack on another ex in 1997 during which he hit her with a hammer and on a separate occasion punched and kicked her in the stomach when he knew she was pregnant.
With regard to the latest offences, he pleaded guilty to false imprisonment, three counts of assault, making threats to kill and criminal damage. He was jailed for seven years and two months, of which he must serve at least two-thirds, and will be on a licence for an extended period of a further two years and ten months.
Andrew Walker, mitigating, said: “As a nine-year-old he was confronted with the knowledge one parent had killed another and he was there with his siblings when it happened. It’s impossible for that not to have had a legacy of some kind which continued into adulthood.”