An abusive boyfriend has been found guilty of strangling his sexual partners for kicks.
Neil Scott-O’Connor’s Brighton girlfriend and a 17-year-old one-night-stand both made separate complaints to the police – both of which he denied.
Today, a jury found him guilty not only of attempting to choke them both but also assaulting his girlfriend, harassing her and threatening to kill both her and her two-year-old son.
During a two-week trial, the jury heard how Scott-O’Connor, 23, from Partridge Green, controlled his girlfriend by telling her what to wear, who she could talk to and even covering her in lovebites so it was difficult for her to meet clients face to face at work.
They were also told that his Google search history showed he had researched strangulation during sex
He had strangled the 17-year-old girl after a “first date from hell” during which he also showed her a horror film featuring gang rape and choking.
The day after, officers arrested him for assaulting the 17-year-old girl, and he got his girlfriend to pick him up from the police station – but didn’t reveal what he had been arrested for.
It was only a few weeks later after he had shouted at her down the phone about various different ways he wanted to kill her and her son that she finally went to the police.
Today, a jury found him guilty of:
– six offences against a 29-year old woman at an address in Brighton on dates between September 2018 and January 2019; one offence of threats to kill, one of attempted strangulation with intent to commit a sexual offence, two offences of causing actual bodily harm, and one of harassment with intent to cause fear;
– three offences against a 17-year-old girl at his address in Partridge Green in December 2018; one offence of attempted strangulation with intent to commit a sexual offence and two of causing actual bodily harm.
Detective Sergeant Andy Ricks said; “I am extremely pleased with this result. My team,including Investigator Gary Campbell, and Detective Constable Tracey Dixon from the Brighton SIU, worked tirelessly to build a solid evidential case over the past year.
“Neil Scott-O’Connor posed a significant risk, luring his victims into relationships through charm and flattery, in one case via social media, then turning to violence and fear to act out his dark sexual fantasies.
“His obsession with strangulation was a common feature in the investigation and it’s only by good fortune that one of his victims was not killed. As Counsel for the prosecution, Richard Hearndon said of Scott-O’Connor; ‘…during strangulation he literally had their life in his hands’.
“We would also like to thank the victims for having the courage to come forward and support us in putting this dangerous offender behind bars.”
Scott-O’Connor was remanded in custody for pre-sentence reports, prior to sentencing on 17 January 2020.
the problem where he’s going is they don’t bother about ‘permissions’