A TORMENTOR who abducted and abused his victim in a violent and sustained three-on-one attack has narrowly avoided being locked up for life.
Cieran Rochford, who "controlled" the "cruel" ordeal at a property in Irvine three years ago, had previously been warned that he could be facing more than a decade behind bars.
The 31-year-old has waited months to be sentenced and finally returned to the High Court in Glasgow this week.
In March, the Times reported that accomplices Mark Simpson and Charli Hodgart were each jailed for 45 months for their roles in the July 2023 assault.
A judge told the pair at the time: "This was an act of cruelty the likes of which I have never come across before and hope to never see again."
On Monday, August 3, Rochford was given an extended 14-year sentence.
The trio all admitted abducting the victim, who they locked in a flat in the Sloan Avenue area, refusing to let him leave and detaining him against his will between July 27 and 28, 2023.
They also admitted assaulting the man, shouting and swearing at him and threatening both he and his family.
The attackers repeatedly struck him on the head with hair clippers, a plate, a glass bottle, flicked cigarette ash onto his body and repeatedly stamped on his head.
He was left permanently disfigured after the life-endangering attack.
Rochford, Simpson and Hodgart also robbed him of a bank card, sets of keys, a mobile phone and money.
Rochford admitted holding a knife to the victim's neck, striking him on the head and body with the blade and attempting to gouge his eye out with the same weapon.
Judge William Gallacher ordered a risk assessment to be completed before sentencing Rochford, with a lifelong restriction order being considered due to his extensive criminal record.
When he returned to the dock this week, defence advocate Paul Nelson urged the court not to impose the lifelong order, adding: "Mr Rochford has been assessed as medium risk."
The advocate said: "This was a plea at trial offered at a preliminary hearing.
"Mr Rochford has recognised he needs help, and that help will be afforded within the estate of the prison service."
Judge Gallacher said: "What you did in July 2023 involved a prolonged, harrowing attack, which was no doubt terrifying, and affected [the victim] at the time and thereafter. The court has to have regard to that.
"What you, along with others, did was cruel and utterly heartless. It was an utterly disgusting attack.
"Having considered reports, various aspects alarmed me over your attitude to your behaviour and your risk.
"I'm not satisfied the threshold [for lifelong restriction] has been crossed, but it is a close call.
"Because of the gravity of the offence, custody is inevitable and the only appropriate sentence. I am satisfied a normal period on licence will not be sufficient."
He was placed on a 14-year extended sentence, with eight years in custody and six years out on licence.
Rochford replied "thank you" to the judge when told "that is all", and was taken downstairs.
A previous court hearing heard Simpson, 21, and Hodgart, 22, were less involved in the attack.
Advocate Lesley Anderson said Simpson is "a young man who struggles to engage with others".
She said: "He had just turned 18 days before this offence. He was homeless and living on streets.
"He ran into Rochford and got involved in offending. He was frightened of his co-accused and found himself in a situation.
"His culpability should be seen as considerably less. The man in control was not Simpson."
Defending Hodgart, advocate Laura Radcliffe said: "There is acceptance on her behalf that this offence is absolutely nothing other than a brutal, prolonged, savage attack. She absolutely accepts the consequences of pleading guilty to this charge as she did.
"All I can say in respect of mitigation is her involvement in this incident is something that she deeply regrets.
"She had minimal involvement in actual violence perpetrated but she was there, did little to assist and made comments."
Judge Gallacher told them: "This man was abused, tortured and attacked in the most insidious and cruel way for hours on end.
“After escaping, he was found – by members of the public – dishevelled and was assisted and taken to hospital. You were responsible for that."
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