Woman killed by rapist fiancee was duped into believing she was safe from harm

A VIOLENT rapist murdered his fiancee after manipulating her into thinking he was harmless – despite cops and her sister warning he was a danger.

Rory O’Connor, 54, subjected frail Diane Nichol, 57, to a prolonged and savage beating at their home leaving her with multiple ‘car crash’ injuries including a severed liver.

The brute had been jailed in Ireland for rape in 2002 but moved to Hawick, Roxburghshire, where he met widowed mum-of-three Diane in 2018.

Her sister Gail Atkinson, 56, alerted police to the pair’s relationship and worried officers upgraded his risk level to ‘violent offender’ after Diane was seen sporting a black eye.

But despite cops and Gail both telling her O’Connor was a danger, she tragically refused to leave him or reveal her torment at his hands – and was killed by him in August last year.

Speaking after he was jailed for 15 years, Gail, from Newcastleton, said: “I knew he was a dangerous man and so did the police – but he couldn’t be stopped and my sister couldn’t be saved.

“It’s still not really sunk in. Has this really happened? It’s a nightmare.

“I’d say to any woman reading this who is suffering behind closed doors – get out now before it’s too late.

“If this tragic story saves another woman’s life, maybe my sister’s death won’t be completely in vain.”

Diane’s life took a tragic turn when hubby Adam, her childhood sweetheart, died of a heart attack in 2016.

Her health rapidly deteriorated but around Christmas of 2018, she told her family she had a new partner.

A few months later, a pal of Gail’s then found a bombshell report online revealing O’Connor was actually a high-risk rapist.

Brave Gail took two pals and went to the home to confront O’Connor and Diane about the news.

She said: “Rory said it was a threesome gone wrong, and he was wrongly convicted.

“Unfortunately, Diane was so under his control. she believed him, not us.”

Worried police increased patrols on O’Connor to at least once a month after Gail reported Diane with a black eye and pointed her towards help for suspected victims of domestic abuse.

Last month the High Court in Edinburgh was told O’Connor had been heard shouting at Diane on the day before she died.

A witness heard him tell her: “You’re useless, you don’t clean, you don’t make my lunch, you better make it tomorrow.”

The following day, a neighbour of Diane heard banging and shouting coming from her flat.

Prosecutor Craig Murray said: “A female could be heard whimpering and moaning.”

The court heard when police officers arrived, the accused let them in and he told her ‘Diane wake up, come on get up.’

Officers saw blood stains and a large clump of Diane’s hair lying beside her as she lay face down on the floor.

Along with paramedics tried to save Diane’s life but she died later that evening.

Jailing O’Connor for 15 years Lord Beckett told O’Connor: “The court must do what it can to deter such savage domestic violence of the kind you inflicted on your partner.”

Detective Chief Inspector Keith Mackay said: “Police Scotland manages registered sex offenders on a daily basis.

“As part of this process, partners are also informed of the offenders criminal background and anyone at risk of domestic abuse offered extensive support.

“These procedures were followed in this case.”

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