Former motorcycle champion Connor Behan jailed for child rape

A former motorcycle racing champion and Isle of Man TT rider has been jailed for 18 years for raping a seven-year-old girl.

Connor Behan, 33, of Heath Avenue, Newcastle-under-Lyme, was found guilty of multiple counts of raping of a girl under 13, as well as multiple counts of sexual assault and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

He was found not guilty of an additional count of sexual touching.

Behan was jailed for 18 years and given a restraining order at Chester Crown Court on Friday.

He will also remain on the Sex Offenders Register for the rest of his life.

Police said Behan sexually assaulted his victim on multiple occasions, starting in May 2019 when she was seven.

Cheshire Police launched an investigation into the abuse in October 2022, after the girl told a teacher at her school.

As part of the investigation, a detection dog was deployed which found traces of Behan’s semen on a blanket owned by the victim.

Det Sgt Scott Graves said: “Behan sexually abused his victim for a sustained period of time – he showed no remorse, denying everything throughout the investigation.

“Thankfully, the jury were able to see through his lies, and he will finally be held accountable for what he’s done.

“I hope this result will allow the victim to eventually move on with her life, now that Behan will be unable to hurt her ever again.”