Former motorbike racer jailed for rape and sexual abuse as judge tells him he has 'no empathy'

A former top motorbike racer has been handed a lengthy jail sentence for the rape and sexual abuse of a young girl.

Connor Behan raced superbikes between 2004 and 2015, and became the Irish road race super twins champion in 2014.

He also competed in the Isle of Man TT. But the 33-year-old, from Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, has now been jailed for 18 years for the shocking abuse, BirminghamLive reports.

During a hearing at Chester Crown Court on Friday (Feb 7), Judge Michael Leeming told him: "You accept no responsibility for your actions and you continue to deny them but I cannot accept it.

"You have no awareness, you have no empathy, and there is an element of victim-blaming throughout your pre-sentence report."

The former rider came to the attention of police in 2022, after the victim reported him to her teacher. Using a detection dog, police found traces of the disgraced rider's DNA on a blanket owned by the victim.

Denying all charges, he was found guilty of rape, sexual assault, and engaging in sexual activity in front of a child following a week-long trial last year. The jury heard Behan sexually assaulted the victim on multiple occasions, starting in May 2019.

Prosecutor Mark Connor said the victim suffered physically and psychologically from the abuse. A victim statement said: "As a result of it I cannot be close to anyone. It affects everything and I take it out on my family and on my friends."

Defending, Adam Watkins said Behan had an issue with drinking and drug-taking due to the death of his father. He added: "It does not explain or excuse his conduct but it is an idea of his difficulties at the time."

Behan will remain on the Sex Offenders Register for the rest of his life and a restraining