Man jailed for ‘despicable’ sex attacks on girls and woman in Orkney

A man has been jailed for 12 years for a carrying out serious sexual assaults against two teenagers and a woman in Orkney.

Gordon Docherty attacked the girls between 2006 and 2008, with one of the teenagers being 13 when she was first assaulted. She was later raped by Docherty.

He raped the woman in her home in August 2020, just days after she had given birth. Her newborn baby was nearby during the attack.

Sentencing 37-year-old Docherty at the High Court in Inverness, Judge Olga Pasportnikov told him: “Your actions were despicable.”

Docherty had earlier been convicted of four charges.

The judge said he had robbed his victims of their dignity and self-worth.

She said: “You sexually exploited two young women who were much younger than you in terms of sexual maturity and robbed them of their innocence.

“Your behaviour against them was predatory and amounted to grooming.

“Your last offence was a disgraceful act committed with a newborn baby nearby.”

Docherty was also placed on the sex offenders register and made subject to an indefinite non-harassment order.

Police Scotland has welcomed the sentence.

Det Insp Calum Reid said Docherty’s attacks were “reprehensible”.

He added: “I want to thank the victims who assisted our investigation. Their support was vital in bringing him to justice.

“While nothing can change what they have experienced, I hope this outcome brings them a degree of closure.”