A Luton man who sexually abused a young boy was jailed for 12 years on Thursday, March 31, 2022. William Connelly, 76, was drunk when he attacked the 12-year-old, who was sleeping.
The victim told Luton Crown Court the ordeal lasted for between 30 minutes and an hour as he was trapped in the bed and struggled to get away.
Connelly thought the boy would not tell anybody, but he did and then two women came forward to say they had been assaulted by him in the 1990s, again when he had been drinking.
One woman had been indecently assaulted as she slept and the other had been groped.
When he was arrested police found indecent images on his computer with search terms involving young boys. Connelly, of Quantock Rise, was convicted of indecent assault, sexual assault, assault by penetration, sexual assault of a boy and possessing indecent images.
Defending, Andrew Howarth said: “The offences are isolated and are years apart. They were opportunistic and committed in drink.” He said the health of both Connelly and his wife of 55 years was extremely poor.
Jailing him, Judge Rebecca Herbert said: “Your behaviour showed an appalling disregard for the impact it would have.
“You thought the boy would not tell – thankfully he did and promptly. His evidence was utterly compelling. You were predatory and determined.”
The judge added an extra year to the sentence because of the nature of the offence.
It means the custodial sentence is 12 years, but Connelly will be on licence and liable to be recalled to prison up to 2035, when he will be aged 89.
He must register as a sex offender and abide by the terms of a sexual harm prevention order for life.
