THREE men have been jailed after sexually assaulting a female for a ‘prank’ in Bracknell.

Johnathan Knight, 42, Richard Loxston, 43, and Robert McGeachie, 44, were sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Friday (August 18) for one count each of sexual assault.

The trio had been friends with the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and had all been drinking at Loxston’s address on July 31, 2020.

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However, when the victim woke up the following morning at 8am, she found her clothing and hair had been cut – including two holes in a bra.

She said she was ‘sore downstairs’ and had gel up her nose and in her hair. She was then shown videos taken by the defendants of the ‘prank’ before she left the property at 11am.

The trio were given 27 months imprisonment each by Judge Hassan Khan.

In a victim impact statement read out to the court, the woman said: “It has had a significant effect on my personality and mental health.

“The assault has caused me to regularly drink more than I used to because I just want to forget about it.

“I find it hard to maintain the relationships, the reason for this is because I’ve known the defendants for many years.

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“I trust them and I thought they were my friends and would never expect them to do this to me. I haven’t had any serious relationships with males since this happened and I don’t feel like I can trust anyone to have a relationship with.”

The victim also states she has been called names since the incident by those who know the defendants, including: “Dirty, smelly tramp” and “Dirty w****”.

Defending Knight, of Wordsworth, Bracknell, his barrister said the group had been ‘heavily drinking’ and they together decided whoever fell asleep first should be pranked, stating the victim suggested clothing should be cut.

He said: “He accepts he went too far.”

Defending Loxston, of Ladybank, Bracknell, his barrister said he accepts his behaviour was ‘unacceptable’ and ‘goes beyond’ a prank.

McGeachie’s defence barrister added that his three-year relationship had just ended prior to the incident and he had ‘began to spiral’.

He added McGeachie, of Arnett Avenue, Wokingham, had told the others to stop during the incident.

Judge Khan said he couldn’t distinguish between the trio and they all took part for their ‘own amusement’.

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“Your actions undermine the dignity of a female,” he said. “You thought you could do as you wish while she was defenceless, and it was a big joke.

“You ascertain she may have been involved in the joke but I have no doubt that she didn’t see it that way.”