Drug dealer who raped teenager is jailed

A drug dealer who raped and exploited a teenage girl has been jailed.

James Conroy, 43, of no fixed abode, was arrested after allegations he was grooming the victim, Cambridge Crown Court heard.

He later began sending her threatening and degrading messages. Police searches in Ely, Cambridgeshire, uncovered bags of cocaine with a street value of about £1,000.

Conroy was found guilty of a range of charges, including rape and supplying cocaine. On Wednesday, he was sentenced to 22 years and six months in prison.

Officers arrested Conroy in September, after they received reports he had been grooming the victim, according to Cambridgeshire Police.

They discovered signs of drug use, along with the victim's belongings, and he was released on bail on condition he did not contact her or anyone else under the age of 18.

A month later, it came to light he had raped the girl and further bail conditions were imposed, including not going near her home.

Officers also found three bags of white powder and £330 in cash in his car.

Within days, Conroy began sending the victim abusive messages, claiming to be "a martyr", calling her names, telling her to die and threatening her with a meat cleaver.

Officers arrested him in his car in a garage in Ely and a search of the vehicle uncovered 12 bags of cocaine with a street value of about £1,000, along with a mobile phone and cash.

He denied rape, engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour, witness intimidation, offering to supply cocaine and supplying a class A drug, namely cocaine, but a jury found him guilty.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to supply a class A drug, namely cocaine.

Conroy was also given a restraining order, placed on the sex offenders register and given a sexual harm prevention order.

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