Girl Gang-Raped On 16th Birthday After Being Given Cocaine-Laced Drink

A 28-year-old British man has been sentenced to 13 years imprisonment for his involvement in the gang-rape of a 16-year-old girl in Wales.

Prince Irving and his companions raped the teenage girl, who has lifelong anonymity, on her 16th birthday in 2019, Wales Online reported. The other suspects were not named in the report.

The men gave the victim a drink laced with cocaine at a party in Cardiff and took advantage of her after she blacked out. The teen awoke to find men assaulting her.

Following his arrest, Irving claimed that he had never been to Cardiff. But a swab taken from the victim matched his DNA.

The victim said that the attack continues to haunt her to this day, especially on her birthday.

During his sentencing at the Newport Crown Court Friday, it was revealed that Irving had traveled from his home in London with others to attend the party that was held in a rented apartment. According to Judge Daniel Williams, the man had "intended to have sex."

"When you met [the victim] your intention, which was shared by one other, was to have sex with her whether or not she wanted it. I am satisfied from the evidence you well knew her age," the judge said.

The judge said that the victim woke up to one of the men raping her before Irving "swapped" with his unnamed companion and assaulted the teen. The other members of the group "came into the bedroom to watch" while the attack was going on, according to the judge.

A third man was planning to rape the victim, but a disturbance at the home prevented this from happening. The girl suffered significant bleeding as a result of the attack.

In a personal statement read to the court by prosecutor Matthew Cobbe, the victim said the rape had limited her ability to live a normal life.

"I went out to celebrate my birthday and ended up in the middle of a nightmare. Every year I celebrate my birthday, it will be the anniversary of my attack," the statement read.

"The incident has left me extremely wary of men and I am not even considering forming a relationship. It will be some time before I get that trust back again," the victim continued. "I do not feel forgiveness for my attacker. He's responsible for the pain he's brought to me and my family and nothing will restore things to normal."

Irving denied the allegations, but he was found guilty following a trial.

Irving's lawyer said his client was the father of two, with the youngest child being born just days ago. The defendant missed the birth because he was remanded in custody following the trial.

Aside from the 13-year sentence, Irving will be subject to sexual offenders' notification requirements for life.