A man who sexually assaulted a young woman during a property viewing after advertising a room for rent has been sentenced to two years in prison, reports Breaking News.
Cork Circuit Criminal Court was told that Leon O’Connor (36) was experiencing an undiagnosed mental health condition when the incident occurred on December 29th, 2021.
Detective Sergeant Michelle O’Leary explained that the victim had responded to a room rental ad posted by O’Connor, reports Breaking News.
He had specified that he preferred a female tenant, claiming they were “easier to get on with,” and also stated he didn’t want someone who smoked or drank.
While arranging the viewing, O’Connor asked the woman whether she was in a relationship—a question she found “unusual.” The court heard she was driven to the house by her brother, reports Breaking News.
O’Connor insisted only the woman enter the house, citing COVID-19 health concerns as the reason for not allowing her brother inside. Her brother waited outside in the car.
Inside, O’Connor showed her the room. She noticed several knives on a bookcase. He closed the curtains, claiming it was to “prevent a draft.”
Det Sgt O’Leary said the woman started to feel uneasy, reports Breaking News.
“He touched her on a number of occasions going around the house. He touched her buttocks. She was afraid he had a weapon.
He brushed his hand against her left breast. As they moved through the house, she tried to remain calm. While showing her the room, he stood beside her. He caressed her vagina area.
“She was extremely frightened. She said she would need to speak to her brother before she decided [to rent the room]. She went out and got into the car and was shaking uncontrollably,” reports Breaking News.
The woman later reported the incident to the Gardaí. Det Sgt O’Leary said the woman feared O’Connor might “lure other females to his house.”
In a victim impact statement, she described how the incident affected her deeply.
“I’ve been a shell of myself. As a result of what happened to me, I lost my confidence, my mental health deteriorated massively, and subsequently my relationships failed, as I felt like I lost control of it,” reports Breaking News.
“All this happened at my worst time. I was homeless, out of work, when people are supposed to be looking forward to a new year and new beginnings,” reports Breaking News.
“What happened to me wasn’t fair, and I didn’t deserve to be put in that position. No one does. I didn’t ask for it, and I didn’t want it, but it did happen to me. I felt so scared that night. I genuinely didn’t know what was going to happen to me, and the 11 or so minutes in that house alone with him felt like an eternity,” reports Breaking News.
Judge Helen Boyle noted, based on psychiatric assessments, that there was “ample evidence of a severe psychiatric illness” present in the case. O’Connor had been previously found guilty by a jury of sexually assaulting the woman three times during the brief visit.
Judge Boyle said it was clear the woman had been “terrified” while being shown around the property. She praised the woman as a “brave” individual trying to improve her circumstances at a difficult time when the assault occurred, reports Breaking News.
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