Nuneaton rapist found sleeping in tent by homeless charity

[dutchman]

He told them his name was Tommy before the charity became suspicious and realised his true identity



A vile rapist who subjected his victim to a "horrifying attack" in Nuneaton was discovered sleeping rough in a tent by volunteers from a homeless charity.

Unknown to the charity, Mark Conway was on the run and the subject of a police manhunt after he tied the woman to a chair and attacked her in her home in Hartshill in February.

Three volunteers from Burton Hope found a soaked Conway in a tent by the Trent and Mersey Canal - before he incorrectly told them his name was 'Tommy'.

He was later taken to Royal Derby Hospital, which led to John Anderson, from Burton Hope, trying to get his birth certificate in order to start the process of rehoming him and getting him help, reports DerbyshireLive.

However, volunteers became suspicious when they struggled to obtain the birth certificate in the name he gave, finding out he was on the run from Warwickshire Police as a suspected violent sex offender.

Mr Anderson said: "This is precisely why we have strict rules about there needing to be a minimum of three volunteers on outreach missions. Good policy and procedures can be a life saver."

Conway, 54, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to rape, false imprisonment and sexual assault and was handed an extended sentence last week including 10-and-a-half years in prison.

As we reported in our Coventry newsletter, he will have to serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before the Parole Board will even consider his release – and may not be freed until he has served the whole sentence.

Once he is released, Conway, who has to register as a sex offender indefinitely, will remain on licence and at risk of being recalled to prison, for the rest of the 10-and-a-half years and then for a further seven years.