A 50-year-old Lurgan man has been sentenced to 19 years in prison in England after admitting multiple rapes and other serious offences, while police also uncovered a telescope in his home directed at a local primary school and a cache of indecent images of children.

Warren Jonathan Conn, of Kings Park Mews, was arrested by the PSNI in February on behalf of Kent Constabulary and extradited. He later pleaded guilty to 15 charges, including rape which he filmed, and controlling and coercive behaviour against a woman he was in a relationship with between August 2016 and July 2018, when he lived in England.

Canterbury Crown Court heard the victim was too frightened to report the abuse at the time. Videos recovered from Conn’s devices showed him forcing her to drink alcohol before raping her while she begged him to stop. The judge, Edmund Fowler, described the abuse as sustained and deeply damaging, involving sexual violence and controlling behaviour.

Judge Fowler said Conn isolated the woman, controlled her movements, took her money, and threatened to show the recordings to her family if she left. He also made her wear clothing associated with a much younger appearance for his own gratification. The judge called the level of degradation extreme.

A second set of charges stemmed from the examination of two mobile phones belonging to Conn. They contained indecent images and videos of children across all categories of seriousness. He had superimposed the face of a child known to him onto an image depicting serious sexual abuse. Other material included the rape of babies and children in indecent poses.

Police also found a telescope set up inside his home and pointed at a nearby primary school, along with an infant sex doll and various items of children’s clothing ranging from babies to toddlers.

The judge concluded Conn posed a very high risk to adult women and children, showed no genuine insight into his behaviour, and held a distorted sexual belief system. He sentenced him to 19 years, with a custodial term of 14 years and a further five years on licence. Conn will be subject to indefinite sex offender registration and a sexual offences prevention order.

After the sentencing, Detective Constable Joe Warner said the case showed victims can come forward no matter how much time has passed and be taken seriously. He commended the victim for her courage and continued support throughout the investigation, which ensured Conn was held accountable.