Skelmersdale man Anthony Doran jailed for 12 years for severing man’s ear with a knife

Mar 7 2013 by Tom Duffy and Gary Stewart, Skelmersdale Advertiser

Skelmersdale man Anthony Doran jailed for 12 years for severing man’s ear with a knife

AN amateur boxer who cut off part of a man’s ear during a torture attack in Skelmersdale was jailed for 12 years.

Ashurst dad Anthony Doran was a member of a drunken gang that hounded James Lloyd through the streets of Digmoor.

Mr Lloyd, 20, was beaten to the ground by the mob. Mr Doran then produced a knife and severed the top third of his victim’s ear.

The baying mob then stripped the victim of his trousers and underwear, and one of them then threatened to cut off his “privates”.

Mr Lloyd was targeted by the gang as he walked home after spending the night with friends.

The attack took place during the early hours of October 22 2011, after Doran and his associates had enjoyed a drunken night out on the town.

Doran, 33, of Marlborough Gardens, denied his role in the attack but was found guilty of Section 18 grievous bodily harm at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday.

The judge, Recorder Tanya Griffiths, QC, said Doran took “sadistic delight in inflicting pain.”

DS Ben Clancy said: “This was a barbaric and motiveless attack on a defenceless young man who was simply walking home after a night out with friends. The injuries that the victim received were appalling and will stay with him as a reminder of this horrific incident for the rest of his life.

“Anthony Doran has, at no stage of the police investigation or at any point during the subsequent court trial, shown any remorse and has in fact shown a chilling disregard for the injuries that he inflicted on the victim.

“The significant sentence imposed in this case suitably reflects the severity of the offence and sends a clear and robust message to the communities of West Lancashire that knife crime and acts of gratuitous violence will not be tolerated”.

John Hallam, who ran Skelmersdale ABC, said that Doran was a promising light-heavyweight boxer and coach. He said: “He boxed here and then returned to coach the kids. He always displayed the right attitude. I am shocked to hear what has happened.”

Doran was jailed for 12 years of which he will have to serve a minimum of eight years, with an additional three years on extended licence.