North Hykeham man jailed for sexual assault on unconscious woman

A man named Stephen Doughty has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for heinous sexual offenses involving a woman who was in a comatose state after a night in a pub. According to court reports, Doughty took 37 photographs of his sexual assault on the unconscious woman. The incident occurred after they had visited a pub in May 2018, although she had not consumed much alcohol initially. The woman later felt unwell and extremely intoxicated the following morning. Doughty initially claimed that there had been no sexual contact, but later changed his story, asserting that the act was consensual, despite the woman having no memory of it. He showed her the photos from the night, which further traumatized her. Doughty, of Newark Road, North Hykeham, was found guilty in July 2019 of rape, attempted rape, and two counts of assault by penetration after a trial, with sentencing delayed due to the judge's illness. During sentencing, Judge John Pini QC condemned Doughty, stating he caused 'incalculable damage' to his victim and described the offenses as 'quite disgraceful.' The victim expressed that she suffers from nightmares and feels emotionally, mentally, and physically broken, stating, 'I am totally broken. This has left me emotionally, mentally and physically destroyed.' The case investigator, retired Detective Constable Robin Palmer, highlighted the horrific nature of Doughty's acts and commended the victim's bravery. Doughty's lawyer claimed that he had served in the forces and was of good character prior to this incident, but acknowledged that one serious misjudgment has severely damaged his reputation and life, as he now faces custody, job loss, and homelessness.