Man jailed for 'horrifying' attack on woman

Francis O'Connor admitted several charges including intimidating a witness, attempted rape and strangulation

A man who throttled and attempted to rape a woman while she slept has been jailed for more than 11 years.

Francis O'Connor, 30, from Doncaster, stole £300 from the victim and fled the scene in her car after the "horrifying and unforgivable attack", South Yorkshire Police said.

While on remand in prison, officers said O'Connor was overheard on the phone encouraging a relative to contact the victim in order to encourage her to drop the charges.

At Sheffield Crown Court on Thursday, he was jailed after admitting charges of intimidating a witness, attempted rape, strangulation, affray, theft and driving a motor vehicle without the owner's consent.

The force said O'Connor's victim managed to fight him off and get to safety, only for O'Connor to grab her throat in a second attack.

During a prison phone call about the victim, O'Connor was overheard telling a relative to "sort it out" and "speak to her then put me on speaker phone".

Det Con Chloe Wharmby, of South Yorkshire Police, said: "O'Connor subjected his victim to a brutal, horrifying and unforgivable attack which has impacted her life significantly.

"What she endured was utterly traumatic and I want to commend the victim for her bravery and courage in coming forward and reporting O'Connor's crimes to us."

O'Connor, who must sign the sex offenders' register indefinitely, was given a restraining order preventing him from making any contact with the woman.

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