Three men jailed for gang rape of teenage girl

James Doherty was sentenced to 16 years in prison at a hearing at Douglas Courthouse

Three men who gang raped a teenager in a flat after she met them at a house party have been jailed.

James Doherty, 41, Steven Cannon, 45, and Graham Skillicorn, 65, attacked the then 18-year-old in June 2022 at the older man's home in Douglas.

Doherty was sentenced to 16 years in prison, Cannon was jailed for 15 years and nine months, and Skillicorn for 14 years and two months at a hearing at Douglas Courthouse.

Deemster Graeme Cook said the men had "behaved like a pack of animals" during the "sustained attack".

All three men were placed on the sex offenders register for life and issued with restraining orders forbidding them from contacting the victim.

Steven Cannon was jailed for 15 years and nine months

The court heard the victim had met the men at a house party at a separate address before Doherty drove them to Skillicorn's flat in Anagh Coar, despite being disqualified from driving.

She was later raped by all three men during the early hours of 25 June 2022.

The court heard Doherty had initiated the attack, with Cannon and Skillicorn then becoming involved in the "sustained incident", which was recorded.

The men denied the offences but were found guilty following a trial at Douglas Courthouse earlier this year.

Peter Skillicorn was jailed for 14 years and two months

In a statement that was read to the court, the victim said the three "vile men" had taken away her innocence.

She had suffered from panic attacks and sleep paralysis nightmares since the attack and had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Deemster Cook praised the victim's "bravery" during the police investigation and trial, describing her as "a courageous young woman".

Doherty was removed from the court during the sentencing hearing for continually interrupting the proceedings.

The deemster described his behaviour as "nothing short of disgusting" which had shown "he still cannot accept he has done anything wrong".

Doherty, who has 41 previous convictions for 110 offences, was also sentenced for separate driving offences and a count of wounding after previously commanding his Staffordshire bull terrier to bite a police officer.