A serial rapist has had an appeal against 16 convictions, which resulted in an 18-year jail sentence, dismissed at Douglas courthouse.

William Henry Kelly, aged 46, from Peel, was convicted in May of 10 counts of rape, four of indecent assault and two of causing actual bodily harm.

Kelly was sentenced to a total of 18-years in prison and will serve at least 12 years, two-thirds of his sentence.

The case was heard by the Staff of Government (appeal division) and lasted six days coming to an end this afternoon (Thursday) when Judge of Appeal Geoffrey Tattersall QC and First Deemster David Doyle dismissed Kelly’s appeal.

The reasons for their decision have been provided to director of prosecutions Richard Butters and defence advocate Stephen Wood and will be made public on the Isle of Man Courts of Justice website at a later date.

Kelly was originally sentenced by Deemster Peter Birkett, after a trial at the Court of General Gaol Delivery on May 18.

A jury of six men and one woman found him guilty on all 16 counts.

While passing the 18-year sentence Deemster Birkett told Kelly: ’You are a cruel, persistent rapist. You are likely for some considerable time, to be a danger to women.’

The offences were committed between 2013 and 2016 against three women who Kelly had formed relationships with, and who he was said to have known were ’vulnerable’.

During the trial the court heard how one of the victims had only just left hospital and Kelly had claimed he was going to look after her.

Another had broken up with her husband and was said to be trying to start afresh in the Isle of Man.

Kelly was said to have controlled and dominated his third victim for nearly two years, indecently assaulting her, raping her on six occasions and using violence against her.