KENNOWAY PAEDOPHILE JAILED FOR 15 YEARS
A man who refused to accept responsibility for sexually abusing three young girls has received a 15-year prison sentence.James Docherty, aged 53 and from Kennoway, was convicted of abusing the victims over a period that spanned from February 1986 to March 2003.
During proceedings at Edinburgh's High Court, it was revealed that the assaults took place at various locations across Ayrshire.
Docherty had previously admitted to charges of sexual assault and lewd and libidinous conduct during an earlier hearing at Glasgow’s High Court.
The court was told that the abuse started 25 years ago when he first assaulted a young girl, continuing until February 1992.
Subsequently, he began abusing a second girl between March 1994 and February 2001.
His third victim was abused from March 2000 until March 2003.
Defense lawyer Lorenzo Alonzi stated that a court-ordered report indicated Docherty struggled to accept that his actions were wrong.
He explained, “He appears to blame the victims, but I can confirm that his attitude has changed.
He was caught in a cycle of harmful behavior and felt guilt, which he was unable to break free from.
This guilt remained with him.
He now recognises that his actions have damaged the victims and acknowledges that, by doing so, he also jeopardized their future.” High Court judge Lord McEwan described Docherty’s conduct as “alarming” and said that the report was “discouraging to read.” He added, “The report indicates a high likelihood of reoffending.
Consequently, I sentence him to 15 years in prison.”
