Sadistic paedophile taunted by victim as he was caged

A sadistic paedophile was taunted by his victim as he was caged for 20 years.

Richard Connerton repeatedly raped the young woman during her childhood, from the age of nine, and subjected her to horrific verbal abuse.

But it was her words that rang in his ears when his day of reckoning finally came at a Manchester Crown Court sentencing hearing.

As he went down the steps to start his lengthy sentence, having shown no glimmer of remorse, the woman sitting nearby in the public gallery simply told him:

Connerton, 46, of Roberts Avenue, Rusholme, Manchester, was convicted of eight sex counts against three girls spanning 25 years at a trial.He was tried twice - with the jury unable to reach a verdict on eight counts in his first trial, and clearing him of seven other charges.

He was re-tried on the outstanding eight and convicted the second time around.

Two of the three victims were subjected to sex assaults, butthe third was repeatedly raped, prosecutor Mark Monaghan told the sentencing hearing.

Despite this, Barry Grennan, defending, said of Connerton, ‘he is not completely bereft of good points’, adding he had ‘shown a caring side’ towards a sick family member, although he conceded this ‘paled into insignificance’ alongside his crimes.

Sentencing him for three counts of indecent assault and five rape charges, Judge Michael Henshell told him: