Tag: Attorney General

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 6 July 2026.

Following a successful pilot, rape and sexual assault survivors across all of England and Wales will have the right to ask for their cases to be reviewed before a final decision to offer no evidence is made.

A year on from its launch in the West Midlands in June 2025, the Early Victims’ Right to Review (VRR) scheme is now being rolled out to every CPS Area across England and Wales from 13July 2026, the Solicitor General, Ellie Reeves KC MP, has confirmed.

Following the successful expansion across four CPS Areas, West Midlands, North West, Yorkshire and Humberside, and Cymru-Wales, the national rollout marks the next step in transforming how the justice system treats victims of rape and serious sexual offences.

The national rollout gives victims of rape or serious sexual abuse the right for their case to be reviewed by a different prosecutor before any final decision is made, meaning the chance to continue proceedings is still available. If that prosecutor disagrees with the original decision, the case will continue.

The national rollout follows positive feedback from victims who have been involved in the pilot. This includes those who did not ultimately request a review, who said they valued having the opportunity for their case to be reconsidered before a final decision was reached.

The scheme forms a central part of the government’s Violence Against Women and Girls strategy, which sets out its commitment to halve VAWG within a decade.

Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC MP said:

Rape and sexual assault cause devastating, long-lasting harm, and every brave victim who comes forward deserves to know their case will be treated with dignity.

Violence against women and girls is my top priority, and the Early Victims’ Right to Review rollout is a landmark moment.

For the first time, victims of rape and serious sexual offences across all of England and Wales will have the opportunity to have their case reviewed, where eligible, giving them a second chance at justice and real control at the most critical point in their case.

This government is determined to halve violence against women and girls within a decade, and ensuring victims are given fairness, dignity and a genuine voice in the justice system is central to that mission.

Siobhan Blake, National CPS Lead for Rape and Serious Sexual Offences, said:

For survivors of rape and sexual offences, the possibility their abuser may never face justice can be deeply distressing.

Victims must have confidence that every decision is made with care and expertise. Our specialist prosecutors usually get it right first time, but when we don’t – and a case that could have continued is stopped – an apology alone cannot feel like justice.

Some victims in the pilot have told us that simply having this option makes a positive difference, and two cases continuing shows the impact it can have.

Expanding the pilot will help us better understand how to support victims and ensure the right decisions are made.

Jade Blue McCrossen-Nethercott said:

The Crown Prosecution Service’s (CPS) commitment to roll out the early Victims’ Right to Review pilot nationally is a landmark moment for victims and survivors.

For many victims, the decision to end a case can feel final, leaving unanswered questions and few opportunities to challenge the outcome. My own experience showed me how devastating it can be when a review comes too late to make a difference, even when mistakes are later identified.

This pilot recognises that victims deserve the opportunity to have decisions reconsidered before they become final. I am incredibly encouraged to see the CPS commit to rolling this pilot out nationally. It shows that when victims are given the opportunity to be heard, their experiences can help shape a fairer and more responsive justice system for others.

Additional quotes for use:

The Victims’ Commissioner Claire Waxman OBE said:

It is fantastic to see the CPS listening and responding to victims’ experiences, and my thanks go to Jade Blue McCrossen-Nethercott for tirelessly campaigning for this vital progress.

Expanding this pilot across the country means that fewer victims of rape and sexual offences will be unfairly denied justice, ensuring they have the opportunity to challenge a decision before it is final.

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 2 July 2026.

Free, classroom-ready lesson plans on the rule of law are now available to every school in England and Wales, following a new partnership between the Attorney General’s Office, Oak National Academy and the Association for Citizenship Teachers.

The lesson plans which aim to teach young people about their rights and the legal system, have been developed with expert educators and shaped by feedback from teachers. Resources range from introductory lessons for five-year-olds exploring why rules exist, to more complex material examining contemporary threats to the rule of law. 

Each lesson is accompanied by task worksheets, explainer videos and quizzes. The key stages one to four plans are free for teachers to download from the Oak National Academy’s website: www.thenational.academy. 

Oak National Academy is used by around three-quarters of England schools and is backed by the Department for Education. The new resources are a practical exploration of what citizenship teaching could look like in light of wider curriculum review. The rule of law is identified as a Fundamental British Value by the Department for Education.

To mark the launch, the Attorney General, Richard Hermer KC and Advocate General for Scotland Catherine Smith KC visited Ark Blake Academy in Croydon on Thursday 2 July 2026, observing a Year 9 lesson using the new resources and taking questions from students. 

The Attorney General, Richard Hermer KC, said:

Every child deserves to understand the laws and rights that protect them. Until now, too many schools have lacked the high-quality resources to teach that with confidence. These free lesson plans, developed with Oak National Academy and the Association of Citizenship Teachers, change that.

Visiting Ark Blake and seeing students engage so enthusiastically with discussions about the importance of the rule of law – a fundamental British value – is exactly why this work matters.

John Roberts, CEO of Oak National Academy said: 

It’s been brilliant to work with the Attorney General’s Office to develop these resources, and give teachers the tools to bring important conversations about the rule of law into the classroom.

By helping pupils understand their rights, the protections the law provides, and the role they play in society, these lessons will support young people to become informed, active citizens.

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 2 July 2026.

Two teenage boys who raped two girls and filmed their crimes in Fordingbridge will now spend time in custody after the Attorney General referred their sentences to the Court of Appeal.

Two teenagers responsible for raping two girls, across two separate incidents, and filming the abuse had their sentences increased to four years detention and indefinite restraining orders (preventing them from contacting the victims), after Attorney General Richard Hermer KC referred their case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. The third teenagers’ sentence was left unchanged.

The court heard that on 26 November 2024, one victim, a 15-year-old girl was led to an underpass in Fordingbridge, after arranging to meet one of the offenders. Two others attended without her prior knowledge. She was then raped by two of the offenders, while a third watched. The attack was filmed and the footage later shared online. The victim was threatened and told not to report the abuse.

All three offenders were convicted of the rape of a second victim, a 14-year-old girl, on 17 January 2025. The attack was again filmed.

In a victim personal statement, the 15-year-old victim described experiencing significant emotional and physical distress. The 14-year-old victim said that the abuse had negatively impacted her attendance at school and described severe emotional distress including ongoing issues with anxiety.

Attorney General Richard Hermer KC said:

Rape is a horrifying crime, and one that our justice system should and will punish severely. I welcome the Court of Appeal’s decision to increase the sentences of the two boys, resulting in their detention.

No one should have to endure what the victims went through, and I commend their bravery in coming forward and campaigning for justice. This government will continue to do everything it can to tackle violence against women and girls.

On the 21 May 2026 at Southampton Crown Court:

• One 15-year-old boy was sentenced to a three-year Youth Rehabilitation Order, a ten-year restraining order, and deprivation of his phone, for two counts of rape and two counts of taking indecent images of children.
• One 15-year-old boy was sentenced to a three-year Youth Rehabilitation Order and a ten-year restraining order, for six counts of rape and four counts of taking and indecent images of children.
• One 14-year-old boy was sentenced to an eighteen-month Youth Rehabilitation Order and a ten-year restraining order for two counts of rape and one count of taking indecent images of children.

On the 2 July 2026, two offenders’ sentences were increased to four years Detention and Training Order with whole life restraining order. The third offender’s sentence was left unchanged.

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 25 June 2026.

Solicitor General, Ellie Reeves KC MP, secures increased sentence for man responsible for a series of robberies and stabbings across the London Underground.

Solicitor General, Ellie Reeves KC MP, secures increased sentence for man responsible for a series of robberies and stabbings across the London Underground. 

Adel Kerari of Hammersmith and Fulham, London, had his sentence increased by one year and one month after the Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC MP referred his case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. 

The court heard how over two weeks in June 2023, Kerari and other gang members carried out a violent crime spree targeting commuters across the London Underground. Victims were robbed, assaulted and stabbed at stations including Holborn, Russell Square, Leicester Square, Goldhawk Road and Leyton.

During one particular day, Kerari and his gang brutally attacked and robbed one woman and two men in three separate incidents at underground stations. All the victims’ phones were stolen, as well as some wallets and bank cards. Two of the victims were stabbed during the attacks.

A total of seven people were targeted across six separate incidents.

The Solicitor General Ellie Reeves MP said:

Adel Kerari purposely targeted lone passengers across the London Underground in a spree of appalling violence. The attacks and stabbings were shocking and vicious.

I welcome the court’s decision to increase the sentence following my referral. Violent criminals and gangs threaten the safety of our towns and cities. I will always pursue action on behalf of victims to ensure sentences reflect the true severity of such violent crimes.

British Transport Police Detective Sergeant Tony Gittins said:

Kerari is an extremely dangerous and violent criminal who launched a rampage of brazen robberies across the London Underground and as such fully deserves to spend the foreseeable future behind bars.

We warmly welcome his sentence being extended today and crucially hope it offers some small comfort to the victims, who have shown considerable strength throughout the judicial process.

A Transport for London (TfL) spokesperson said:

These were extremely serious and violent offences that have no place on London’s transport network, and we are pleased that the offender has been brought to justice.  

The safety of our customers and staff is our top priority, and we continue to work closely with the police to tackle robbery and violent crime across the network – including with the Metropolitan Police and the British Transport Police to carry out targeted operations and patrols in hotspot locations and using our data and extensive network of CCTV to pursue offenders.  

We remain committed to ensuring that anyone who commits offences on our network is brought to justice, and that our transport network remains a safe and secure environment to work and travel.

On 9 January 2025 at Inner London Crown Court, Adel Kerari was sentenced to 2 years and 8 months’ imprisonment for six counts of robbery, and one count of fraud.  

On Thursday 25 June 2026 at the Court of Appeal, Adel Kerari’s sentence was increased to 3 years and 9 months.

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 17 June 2026.

Solicitor General secures increased sentences for three gang members in Camden stabbing.

Kye Regis, Celyse Knight and Khalil Haidara, who were convicted of attempted murder, had their detention sentences increased by four, five and four years respectively, after the Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC MP referred their case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

The court heard that in Camden, North London three members of the locally based Agar Grove gang, Regis, Knight and Haidara, attacked a rival gang member Omar Greaves, on 1 November 2024. All three attackers were carrying knifes and pinned down Greaves before stabbing him five times. Greaves was taken to hospital where he received life-saving surgery and recovered.

Regis and Knight were involved in two further incidents, before they were arrested. On 9 November 2024, they assaulted another rival gang member. Following this attack all three offenders were remanded into custody. Then on 30 December 2024 while in custody Knight attacked another prisoner with a metal bar.

The Solicitor General Ellie Reeves MP said:

Gang-based violence has a devastating impact on the safety of our streets. Regis, Knight and Haidara are dangerous repeat offenders who targeted rival gang members, attempted to commit murder, and continued to act violently before being taken into custody.

I welcome the court’s decision to increase all three sentences following my referral. As Solicitor General, I will do everything I can to support the government in trying to protect the public and tackle the scourge of knife crime and gang-based violence in our towns and cities.

On 19 December 2025 at Central Crown Court:

• Kye Regis was sentenced to 15 years’ detention for one count of attempted murder, one count of possession of a bladed article and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
• Celyse Knight was sentenced to 12 years’ detention for one count of attempted murder, one count of possession of a bladed article, one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one count of unlawful wounding.
• Khalil Haidara was sentenced to 13 years’ detention for one count of attempted murder and one count of possession of a bladed article.

On Thursday 11 June 2026 at the Court of Appeal:

• Kye Regis’s sentence for one count of attempted murder was increased to 18 years, resulting in a total sentence of 19 years’ detention.
• Celyse Knight’s sentence for one count of attempted murder was increased to 14 years and 6 months’ detention. The sentences for one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one count of unlawful wounding were also adjusted to run consecutively, bringing the total sentence to 17 years’ detention.
• Khalil Haidara’s sentence for one count of attempted murder was increased to a total of 17 years’ detention.

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 15 June 2026.

The Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC has referred the sentence of Vickrum Digwa, convicted of the murder of Henry Nowak, to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

The Court of Appeal will now decide whether the sentence imposed was unduly lenient, and whether to increase the existing sentence.

The Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC MP says:

This case horrified me, and I know that feeling is shared by the British public. It is right that difficult questions need to be answered about the way the police handled Henry’s Nowak’s murder, while my role is to review Digwa’s sentence for his crimes.

After careful consideration, I have taken the decision to refer this case to the Court of Appeal.

No sentence can ever undo the devastation that Henry’s family have suffered, or fill the void left by his loss. But I hope this referral goes some way towards bringing them the justice they deserve.

Notes for Editors

• Anyone can ask for a Crown Court sentence to be reviewed if they think it’s too low.
• The Law Officers can review sentences given by the Crown Court in England and Wales if they’re asked to. The Law Officers have 28 days from sentencing to carefully consider the case and make a decision
• By law only certain types of case can be reviewed, such as murder, manslaughter and rape

The press release issued by the Attorney General on 26 May 2026.

The Attorney General has made the decision to refer the cases of the Fordingbridge Three to the Court of Appeal.

Following a swift and detailed examination of the cases, the Attorney General has made the decision to refer the cases of the Fordingbridge Three to the Court of Appeal.

After receiving multiple requests to review the sentences, the Attorney General’s Office obtained copies of the papers relating to this case. These included the facts of the offending, the judge’s findings and the sentencing guidelines, which have been carefully considered.

A reference under the Unduly Lenient Scheme can only be made if a sentence is not just lenient, but likely to be unduly so.

The Court of Appeal will now decide whether the sentence imposed was unduly lenient, and whether to increase the existing sentence.

The Attorney General Richard Hermer KC says:

There has understandably been a huge amount of public interest, and concern, at this horrific case.

I directed my officials to work urgently, to allow me to consider this decision swiftly, and to begin to bring closure to the victims and their families.

It is clear to me from their powerful personal statements, that these girls have displayed immense bravery in coming forward.

There is an epidemic of violence against women and girls in this country, and this government will not hesitate in taking action to ensure all women and girls feel safe and have confidence in the justice system.

Notes for Editors

• Anyone can ask for a Crown Court sentence to be reviewed if they think it’s too low.
• The Law Officers can review sentences given by the Crown Court in England and Wales if they’re asked to. The Law Officers have 28 days from sentencing to carefully consider the case and make a decision
• By law only certain types of case can be reviewed, such as: murder, manslaughter and rape
• Victims and their bereaved families will have up to six months in the interests of justice to ask for a sentence to be reconsidered – rather than being strictly limited to 28 days: Victims and bereaved get more time to challenge lenient sentences – GOV.UK
• More information on the ULS scheme, including who can refer and for what reasons, can be found on our website: Ask for a Crown Court sentence to be reviewed – GOV.UK

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 19 May 2026.

Adam Leddra, from Fatfield in Washington, had his sentence increased to four years after the Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC MP referred his case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

The court heard that Leddra met his victim on social media in June 2012 when she was 15 years old and he was 19.

Leddra began grooming the teenager online before he sexually abused the victim on several occasions.

He coerced the teenager through emotional blackmail to share indecent images and Leddra gave the victim a sexually transmitted infection.

When police arrested Leddra, he said he did not remember the victim, while denying he sexually abused her or coerced her into sexual acts.

The court heard that Leddra had previous cautions for possessing indecent images of a child and was jailed for 20 months in 2014 for similar offences against two other girls.

The victim provided impact statements to the courts where the teenager said she had suffered post-traumatic stress disorder and that Leddra took advantage of her vulnerability and difficult home life.

The Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC MP said:

Adam Leddra is a dangerous sexual predator. He knew his victim was only a teenager but completely disregarded her age, preying on her vulnerabilities to unleash some of the most horrific sexual abuse.

I welcome the court’s decision to increase his prison sentence and protect any more victims from harm. I want to commend the victim’s bravery for coming forward to help bring this perpetrator to justice.

On 23 December 2025 at Newcastle Crown Court, Adam Leddra was sentenced to two years and nine months’ imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child, and two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Leddra also received a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and an indefinite restraining order.

On Tuesday 19 May 2026, the Court of Appeal increased Adam Leddra’s sentence to four years.

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 19 March 2026.

A rapist who broke into a woman’s home and tried to get her to drop case against him has his sentence increased after the Solicitor General intervened

Ionut Tanae of Nelson, Lancashire, had his sentence increased by three years and seven months after the Solicitor General referred his case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. 

The court heard that 33-year-old Tanae raped his victim on two separate occasions.  

He then broke into the victim’s home and tried to persuade her to drop the case against him.  

After being charged and remanded in custody, Tanae wrote to the victim and for a second time tried to convince her to drop the case.  

In the victim’s impact statement, she described suffering with depression and anxiety as well as feelings of immense shame.  

The Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC MP said: 

Ionut Tanae’s crimes were devastating. He raped his victim on more than one occasion and then intimidated her to drop the case. Even in custody, Tane continued his campaign of intimidation. 

No one should have to endure what the victim went through, and the original sentence did not reflect the true gravity of his offending. I welcome the Court of Appeal’s decision to increase Ionut Tanae’s sentence, and I commend the bravery of the victim throughout this horrendous ordeal. 

On 26 November 2025, Tanae was sentenced to eight years and six months at Preston Crown Court after being convicted of two counts of rape, two counts of perverting the course of justice and one count of burglary. 

On 19 March 2026 at the Court of Appeal, Tanae’s sentence was increased to 12 years and one month.

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 6 February 2026.

A man who raped and sexually abused a teenage girl had his sentence extended after the Solicitor General intervened.

Scott Chapman, of Hereford, had his sentence increased by nearly two and half years after the Solicitor General referred his case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme. 

The court heard that Scott Chapman befriended a 14-year-old girl he met online.  

Scott Chapman, who was 20-years-old at the time, was aware of the girl’s age before sexually abusing the victim on several occasions.  

In one incident in April 2021, Scott Chapman raped the victim despite protests to stop and when confronted by the teenager, denied the assault had taken place.  

The victim said in a personal statement, that the experience has had a significant impact on her life,  causing lasting psychological and physical harm. 

The Solicitor General Ellie Reeves MP said: 

Scott Chapman is a dangerous sexual predator. He sexually abused a young girl on several occasions causing untold mental and physical harm.  

I would like to offer my deepest sympathies to the victim for the trauma she has endured. I welcome the court’s decision to increase Scott Chapman’s s sentence, preventing this dangerous offender from harming anyone else. 

On 18 September 2025 at Worcester Crown Court, Scott Chapman was sentenced to 4 years and 3 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to rape, sexual activity with a child, and sexual communication with a child. 

On 5 February 2026 at the Court of Appeal, Scott Chapman’s sentence was extended to six years and eight months.