R v Connor Probert

Facts

Ms Orawan Thomas ran the Royal Orchard Thai Massage Parlour in Cathays, Cardiff; she is disabled with mobility difficulties, having contracted polio as a child. At 18:00 on 17 February 2024 the appellant, Connor Probert, telephoned to book a 30-minute deep tissue massage for 18:30 that evening, refusing to give his name and paying in cash on arrival. As she was the only member of staff present, Ms Thomas locked the front door. The massage passed without incident, but as she turned to leave the room the appellant seized her from behind and struck her to the head three times with a hammer he had brought in his rucksack. During the struggle over the hammer he put his hand to her throat, knelt over her on the blood-covered floor and strangled her; she believed she was going to be killed. She escaped when her son knocked at the door. She suffered three head wounds, one splitting the cartilage of her ear, together with soft tissue injuries. The appellant pleaded guilty at the plea and trial preparation hearing to section 20 wounding, strangulation and having an offensive weapon, and to wounding with intent on the first day of trial. On 11 July 2025 the Recorder of Cardiff imposed a discretionary life sentence with a minimum term of 4 years and 2 months. He appealed with the leave of the Single Judge.