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Thieving rapist back on the streets after serving latest sentence for burglaries

Notorious sex attacker back home after serving 11 months for multiple offences

Today at 09:28

A notorious rapist is back on the streets after serving 11 months in prison for a spree of thefts and break-ins.

John Connors broke into a woman’s house in 2006 and raped her while her son was in an adjacent room.

Connors was freed from prison for that offence in 2019 — but the Sunday World can reveal he continued his life of crime following his release.

In April last year, Connors was jailed for 10 months at Wexford Circuit Court over a spree of thefts he committed the previous June.

On June 29, 2022, Connors broke into a building at Ballydawmore, Tinnacross, Enniscorthy, Wexford for the purposes of theft.

That same day, or the following day, at Ballybeg Great, Screen, Co Wexford, Connors stole an Ifor Williams Trailer valued at €5,000.

On the same dates, at Ballybeg Great, he stole a Honda cement mixer.

And, on June 30, 2022, at Drumgoold Villas, Enniscorthy, he handled a stolen yellow strimmer knowing that the property was stolen or was reckless as to whether it was stolen.

On July 6 last year, at Gorey District Court, he had an additional five months added to his 10 month sentence when he was convicted of stealing an MCM single axle trailer to the value of €1,750 at Coonogue Ballymurphy Carlow on June 24, 2022.

Connors was released from the Midlands Prison two weeks ago after serving 11 months of the overall 15 month sentence handed down and, sources said, it is believed he is now back in his home county.

Connors and his former pal Patrick Moorehouse (33) were released from prison in June 2019 after serving 14-year jail sentences for the horrific rape of the young woman in 2006.

The two Wexford men forced their way into her house on August 31 that year and raped her while her young child was in an adjacent room.

At their trial in December 2008, their victim recounted how the two men forced their way into her home.

They had called at her door asking if she wanted to buy a camcorder.

Her young child was in the living room when she was pushed into a bedroom and Moorehouse punched her.

She was pushed on to the bed and a piece of rope that was on the floor was wrapped around her neck.

Connors held the rope while Moorehouse raped her and then the men swapped places.

The court heard the mother dared not make much noise as she was conscious of her child in the living room, who was unaware of what was happening.

The two rapists dressed and left after threatening her not to tell anybody what had happened.

Both Connors and Moorehouse both later denied the rapes in court.

They were both unanimously convicted of rape by a jury in the Central Criminal Court in 2008.