Abuser jailed after rape captured on baby monitor

Connor Pennell's victim says she has "flashbacks of everything he has done to me"

An "extremely dangerous and misogynistic" man whose rape attack on a woman was captured on a baby monitor camera has been jailed.

Connor Pennell, 28, from Skelmersdale, Lancashire, had saved the footage of the "horrific" assault to his mobile phone.

The victim had reported Pennell's controlling abuse to police in Wigan in July last year after he strangled her and she thought she was going to die, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.

He was sentenced at Bolton Crown Court to nine-and-a-half years after being convicted of rape, controlling and coercive behaviour, non-fatal strangulation, three counts of voyeurism and breaching his restraining order, all of which he had denied.

GMP said the victim had revealed Pennell's abuse due to the fear she had for her life.

He was previously charged for battery and strangulation and a protection from harassment order was also put in place but detectives said this did not stop his offending.

Pennell was violent and abusive and had also threatened his victim, saying he would release intimate images of her if she reported he had breached his order, GMP said.

'Haunts me'

Pennell had told police another version of events and claimed his phone would back up what he was saying.

But when detectives began to retrieve the data, they discovered deliberate attempts to record footage of offences on the baby monitor.

The victim said in her impact statement: "Before I met Connor, I was a funny, bubbly, confident, loyal, young girl, and I had many friends who I loved, and a whole family who I loved with all my heart and who loved me.

"He stripped pretty much every aspect of my life away and has changed the course of my future. I'm not the same person I was."

She said Pennell had made her relive it all during the trial "surrounded by strangers watching videos of myself in an extremely personal state that haunts me".

'Misogynistic attitude'

She said she had "flashbacks of everything he has done to me and of the trial" but vowed "not to let him take any more of me".

"Survivors always say the bruises disappear but the mental aspect of it takes much longer and they are right, so I am relearning to love myself," she said.

She said she hoped the sentencing would help other victims come forward, and "show them their voices will be heard, and that justice will be served".

Det Con Amy Stewart said: "Pennell had a complete disregard for women and is an extremely dangerous individual.

"His misogynistic attitude towards women was clear for all to see in the end once we uncovered the shocking and disturbing evidence."

She praised the bravery of the victim, adding: "No life should be overshadowed by those who are intent on causing unnecessary and traumatic abuse."