Description
A drug dealer who exploited and raped a teenage girl has been jailed for more than 22 years.
James Conroy, 43, of no fixed abode but from the Ely area, was arrested in September last year following reports he had been grooming the victim.
During a police search of a property in Soham, officers found signs of drug use, along with the victim’s belongings. Conroy was arrested and released on bail with conditions not to contact the victim or anyone under the age of 18.
A month later, it came to light that Conroy had raped the victim. He was arrested again and further bail conditions were imposed, including not going near the victim’s home. Officers also found three bags of white powder and £330 in cash in his car.
However, just days later, Conroy was seen leaving a shop close to where the victim lived and he began sending the victim a series of abusive, degrading and threatening messages across multiple social media platforms.
The victim did not respond to the messages, which included threats to murder people known to her, describing himself as "a martyr". In further messages, Conroy offered the victim drugs if she met him before subjecting her to further abuse, calling her names, telling her to die and threatening her with a meat cleaver.
The next day, officers stopped Conroy in his car at a garage in Ely and arrested him. A search of the vehicle uncovered 12 bags of cocaine with a street value of about £1000, along with a mobile phone and cash.
Following a trial in April, Conroy was found guilty of rape, engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour, witness intimidation, offering to supply cocaine and supplying a class A drug, namely cocaine.
He had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to supply a class A drug, namely cocaine.
At Cambridge Crown Court on Wednesday (19 August), Conroy was sentenced to 22 years and five months in prison. He was also given a restraining order, placed on the Sex Offenders Register and handed a sexual harm prevention order.
Detective Constable Melanie Millar, who investigated, said:
"Conroy exploited and abused a vulnerable teenager for his own gratification before attempting to control, intimidate and manipulate her.
"Despite being arrested and placed on strict bail conditions, he continued to pursue the victim, sending her a barrage of abusive and threatening messages and showing a complete disregard for the law.
"I would like to commend the victim for the bravery and resilience she has shown throughout this investigation and court process. I hope this sentence provides her with some reassurance that Conroy can no longer cause harm.