‘Extremely harmful’ rapist was caught after footage of him attacking sufferer was secretly filmed on a child monitor

A rapist was caught by police after footage of him attacking a woman was secretly filmed on a baby monitor.

Connor Pennell was finally exposed as a sexual predator after officers found the horrifying footage which had been saved onto his phone.

Pennell was dubbed ‘extremely dangerous’ and ‘misogynistic’ by officers and had boasted he was innocent – telling police his phone records would exonerate him.

But it was his mobile that proved to be his downfall when investigators began to retrieve data from his device.

Pennell had deliberately recorded sordid acts on a baby monitor, which the victim was completely unaware of – and were used to convict him.

The 27-year-old from Skelmersdale, Lancs, has now been jailed for nine-and-a-half years after being found guilty of breaching a restraining order, rape, controlling and coercive behaviour, non-fatal strangulation and three counts of voyeurism at Bolton Crown Court.

He will be placed on the Sex Offenders Register and has an indefinite restraining order to stop him going anywhere near the victim.

Concerns were initially raised back in July 2024 in Wigan, Greater Manchester, when officers spoke to the woman who feared for her life.

Violent sex offender Connor Pennell was finally caught after officers found the horrifying footage which had been saved onto his phone

He was charged with battery and strangulation, and a protection from harassment order was put in place.

But this did not deter him, and he went on to use controlling and coercive behaviour, became abusive in person and on text.

He also threatened to release intimate images of the victim if she reported him for breaching the harassment order.

Once arrested and interviewed, Pennell pleaded his innocence and told another version of events, bragging that his phone records would exonerate him.

On one occasion, the victim thought she was going to die after the thug strangled her.

Her victim impact statement, read in court, said: ‘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, I had a life and a future to look forward to.

‘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.

‘Connor made me re-live it all, sitting in this court, surrounded by strangers watching videos of myself in an extremely personal state that haunts me.

‘I have flashbacks of everything he has done to me and flashbacks of the trial.

‘I hope that sentencing will help other Victims of Domestic violence and sexual crimes come forward and show them that their voices will be heard, and that justice will be served.

‘It’s a long road to recovery because once the abuse stops it doesn’t mean it’s over, 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.

‘I will not let him take any more of me. Connor is a danger to women and children, and I pray that today’s sentencing reflects how powerful it is what one man’s damage can cause.’

On Pennell being put behind bars, Detective Constable Amy Stewart from Greater Manchester Police’s Wigan district, said: ‘Pennell had a complete disregard for women and is an extremely dangerous individual.

‘The bravery of the victim in coming forward and then having the confidence and belief in us to be able to support a prosecution will hopefully help her as she tries to rebuild her life after what was a horrific time for her, with Pennell now facing the consequences.

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

‘I want to stress the importance to anyone out there who may be in a controlling relationship to please, when possible, to reach out and speak to us as we can help and ensure you receive the necessary support.

‘No life should be overshadowed by those who are intent on causing unnecessary and traumatic abuse.’