Surrey man loses appeal for case of gang rape
19-year-old had medical disorder
The Province
Published: Thursday, November 30, 2006

A Surrey man sentenced to four years in prison for his part in the vicious gang rape of a teen with a medical problem has had his sentence appeal thrown out of court.

Gurdev Singh Dhillon was found guilty of the attack on the 19-year-old woman in July 2004, along with two other men.

The victim, who is on medication for epilepsy, diabetes and a breathing disorder, became dizzy after she was forced to drink alcohol. She was made to watch a pornographic video and then taken into Dhillon's bedroom, where the assaults took place.

Dhillon's lawyer told the B.C. Court of Appeal that the provincial court judge's sentence was harsh and excessive and argued Dhillon was not as much to blame as the other assailants.

But in rejecting those arguments, Justice Allan Thackray said Dhillon was not only a "direct" sexual assailant, he was an active collaborator in the sexual and common assaults committed.

He said it was hard to imagine a set of circumstances more morally repugnant.

"Here a teenager with a medical problem that forced her to abstain from alcohol was put under the influence of alcohol, was verbally abused and degraded, and was made the victim of physical beatings, sadistic forced vaginal and oral penetration, and attempted buggery."