Trucker jailed for abusing boys in Romania

Feb 24 2011 by Chris Clements, Hamilton Advertiser

A BELLSHILL trucker who sexually abused young boys in Romania has been jailed for eight years.

Twisted paedophile James Connor (33) was arrested in the country last August after Romanian police caught him holding captive two missing boys, aged nine and 14, in his lorry.

The long-distance haulage driver was also caught with a laptop which contained videos of Connor abusing at least five other children.

He was arrested at a service station near the country’s border with Moldova by cops hunting for one of the boys.

He had lured children into his vehicle by promising them sweets and money. It is thought all of his victims were from deprived backgrounds.

Connor, who maintained his innocence through his four-week trial at Vaslui Court, was convicted and given a 22-year sentence. However, he will only serve eight years.

The 33-year-old was also fined r2000 (£1700) and will pay court costs.

Authorities now fear that the pervert may have lured dozens of children into his lorry during his work across the continent.

He is suspected of abusing children in France, Spain, Moldova, Bulgaria and Ukraine.

In 2008, Connor – who was working with Bellshill firm Ross International at the time of his arrest – was investigated in Spain after an alleged abuse of the 13-year-old son of a business partner.

Former colleagues of Connor also claimed that he travelled with young boys, whom he claimed were relatives or friends.

Another told of how he was once found in a layby in Belgium used by gay men. When approached by his colleague, a number of children escaped from Connor’s lorry cab and ran away.

The Romanian court heard that Connor has convictions for sexual offences against children in Scotland.