A GANG rape victim feared she was carrying the baby of one of her attackers for three months, a court has heard.

The 17-year-old found out she was pregnant following an attack by three men at a house party in Dartford in September last year.

Max Parker, aged 27, of Gore Road in Dartford, Benjamin Millen, aged 23, of Holywell Lane in Upchurch and Ryan King, aged 20, of Moore Close in Dartford were each sentenced to eight years imprisonment at Canterbury Crown Court yesterday after being convicted following a three week trial in Maidstone in September.

The girl, who was studying for her A-levels, was raped by Parker, Millen and King at a party on September 17, 2010. Parker and King were arrested on September 18 and Millen on September 30 and all three were charged with rape on January 10.

Judge Philip St John Stevens accepted at the sentencing hearing that no physical harm was done to the girl, but said “the psychological affect is clear”.

He added: “She had to contend with the prospect that she was carrying the child of her attacker for some 12 weeks.”

At one stage in the ordeal, Judge St John Stevens said one man shouted that he “wanted to have a go” and one of the men held the victim while another blocked the door.

He conceded the crime was “opportunistic” and “wholly out of character”.

Lawyers for all three defendants said their clients did not pose a danger to the public.

Speaking for Millen, Dominic Webber said the pre-sentence report was “supportive”. He said: “It indicates, in almost all aspects, Mr Millen is a kind and gentle person.”

At the hearing, Millen also admitted breaching a suspended sentence – which was hours from expiring when the offence occurred – and breaching a community order for convictions of ABH, resulting from an attack on a motorist with an iron bar, and possession of cannabis.

Judge St John Stevens chose to sentence the men together, to eight years, of which they will serve half in prison before being released on licence. They were made subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order which bans them from trying to contact the victim for 10 years and will all have to sign the sex offenders’ register for life.

Detective Inspector Ian Dampier, who headed up the investigation, welcomed the sentenced. He added: “I hope that it will allow the victim to continue to rebuild her life, safe in the knowledge that these men will remain in prison for some time.

“Parker, Millen and King callously took advantage of a young woman for their own sexual gratification knowing that she had not consented to sex.

He praised the bravery of the victim for reporting the crime and testifying at court and said he hoped it would give other victims the confidence to come forward.