Man Jailed for Over 11 Years Following Attack and Witness Intimidation

Francis O’Connor, a 30-year-old man from Doncaster, has been sentenced to more than 11 years in prison. The conviction stems from an incident where he throttled and attempted to rape a woman while she slept. South Yorkshire Police reported that following the “horrifying and unforgivable attack,” O’Connor stole £300 from the victim and then fled the scene in her car. While on remand in prison, officers stated that O’Connor was overheard on the phone encouraging a relative to contact the victim in an attempt to persuade her to drop the charges. His sentencing took place at Sheffield Crown Court on Thursday, where 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 indicated that O’Connor’s victim managed to fight him off and get to safety, only for O’Connor to grab her throat in a second assault. During a prison phone call about the victim, O’Connor was recorded telling a relative to “sort it out” and to “speak to her then put me on speaker phone.” Detective Constable Chloe Wharmby, of South Yorkshire Police, commented: “O’Connor subjected his victim to a brutal, horrifying and unforgivable attack which has impacted her life significantly.” She further stated: “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 also issued a restraining order preventing him from making any contact with the woman.