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Tag: Attorney General

  • PRESS RELEASE : Two drug suppliers will spend longer in prison – Keith Davis and Andrew Gurney [September 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Two drug suppliers will spend longer in prison – Keith Davis and Andrew Gurney [September 2022]

    The press release issued by the Attorney General on 21 September 2022.

    Two prolific drug suppliers will spend longer in prison after their sentences were referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme by the then Solicitor General Edward Timpson CBE KC MP.

    Keith Davis, 56, from Buckinghamshire, and Andrew Gurney, 51, from Birmingham, were both involved in a professional conspiracy to produce tons of amphetamine sulphate, a class B drug. Davis was also involved in further conspiracies to produce other drugs.

    Both offenders were involved in the construction and operation of a laboratory that was capable of producing 136kg of amphetamine sulphate per week, meaning that around 6 tons of the drug with a wholesale value of £11m could have been produced during the laboratory’s period of operation between June 2020 and April 2021.

    On 10 June 2022, at Kingston upon Thames Crown Court, Davis was sentenced to 5 years and 3 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to supply and produce a class B drug and conspiracy to transfer criminal property. Gurney was sentenced to 6 years and 3 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to produce a class B drug and possession of criminal property.

    Following the sentencing, the then Solicitor General referred the sentences of both offenders to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme as he felt that they were too low.

    On 21 September 2022, the Court found the sentences of both Davis and Gurney to be unduly lenient. Davis received a new sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, while Gurney will now also serve a sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment.

    Speaking after the hearing, the newly appointed HM Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson MP said:

    The illegal and dangerous drugs produced and supplied by both Davis and Gurney will have ruined lives, and so I am satisfied with the decision of the Court to order both offenders to serve longer prison terms.

    The new sentences are a better reflection of the seriousness of the crime of drug dealing and supplying at this level.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New Law Officers appointed

    PRESS RELEASE : New Law Officers appointed

    The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 7 September 2022.

    The Prime Minister has appointed Rt Hon Michael Ellis QC MP as Attorney General for England and Wales, and Michael Tomlinson MP as Solicitor General.

    The Attorney General, Rt Hon Michael Ellis QC MP said:

    I am honoured to have been appointed as Her Majesty’s Attorney General for England and Wales and delighted to join the Prime Minister’s Cabinet which will get our economy growing, deal with the energy crisis and put the health service on a firm footing. I look forward to working again with the superb civil servants in the Attorney General’s Office who will support me in my role as Attorney General, making law and politics work together.

    I am also delighted to take up my role as Advocate General for Northern Ireland.  Strengthening our Union, protecting the security and prosperity of all its nations, and levelling up every part of the country are important to me.  I look forward to working with my fellow Law Officers as we carry out our functions across the whole of the United Kingdom.

    Biography

    The Rt Hon Michael Ellis QC MP

    The Rt Hon Michael Ellis QC MP was appointed Attorney General on 6 September 2022.

    He was appointed Paymaster General from 16 September 2021 to 6 September 2022. He was also Minister for the Cabinet Office from 8 February 2022 to 6 September 2022.

    He was Solicitor General from 26 July 2019 to 2 March 2021, and re-appointed to that role from 10 September 2021 to 15 September 2021. He was Attorney General from 2 March 2021 to 10 September 2021 while Suella Braverman was designated as a Minister on Leave.

    He was previously Minister of State at the Department for Transport from 23 May 2019 to 25 July 2019. He was Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport from January 2018 to May 2019.

    He was Deputy Leader of the House of Commons from 17 July 2016 to 8 January 2018.

    He was elected Conservative MP for Northampton North in May 2010.

    Michael Tomlinson MP

    Michael Tomlinson MP was appointed Solicitor General on 7 September 2022.

    He was previously a Vice Chamberlain of HM Household (Government Whip) between 8 July 2022 and 7 September 2022, and Government Whip (Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury) between 14 February 2020 and 8 July 2022.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Increased sentence for rapist Raymond Pelz after referral to the Court of Appeal

    PRESS RELEASE : Increased sentence for rapist Raymond Pelz after referral to the Court of Appeal

    The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 6 September 2022.

    A rapist who repeatedly abused two young girls has had his prison sentence increased after the case was referred to the Court of Appeal for being unduly lenient.

    Raymond Pelz, now 76, raped and sexually assaulted the two children over a year-long period between 1961 and 1963 when he was 15 years old.

    He was found guilty of two rape and two sexual assault offences on 1 June 2022, at Lewes Crown Court. He received a three-year prison sentence and was placed on the sex offender register for the rest of his life.

    Following the sentencing the then Solicitor General, Alex Chalk MP, referred Pelz’s case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme because he felt the original sentence was too low.

    On 06 September 2022 the Court of Appeal found that Pelz’s sentence was unduly lenient and increased it to 5 years’ imprisonment.

    Speaking after the hearing, the Solicitor General Edward Timpson CBE QC MP said:

    Pelz abused two vulnerable young children and caused incalculable damage to them. The increase in his sentence reflects the harm he inflicted and sends a clear message that sexual violence will be met with an appropriate punishment.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Repeat burglar Kyle Mark Thatcher who attacked elderly woman receives increased sentence

    PRESS RELEASE : Repeat burglar Kyle Mark Thatcher who attacked elderly woman receives increased sentence

    The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 6 September 2022.

    A repeat burglar who assaulted an elderly woman in her home has had his sentence increased to 4 years and 6 months’ imprisonment as it was found to be unduly lenient after it was referred to the Court of Appeal.

    Kyle Mark Thatcher, 30, committed three burglaries in Kent over a two-week period in April stealing thousands of pounds worth of goods. In the final burglary he attacked an 88-year-old woman who had disturbed him – pushing her over and causing an injury to her head.

    At Canterbury Crown Court on 30 May 2022, he was sentenced to a prison sentence of 2 years and 8 months for the three domestic burglaries.

    Following the sentencing, the then Solicitor General Alex Chalk MP, referred Thatcher’s sentence to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme as he felt that the original sentence was too low.

    Thatcher’s original sentence was found to be unduly lenient by the Court on 6 September and was increased to 4 years 6 months’ imprisonment.

    Speaking after the hearing, the Solicitor General Edward Timpson QC MP said:

    Not only did Thatcher steal thousands of pounds worth of goods, he also injured a vulnerable woman trying to protect her home and belongings.

    Those who break into people’s homes for their own personal gain need to face the appropriate punishment and the increase in Thatcher’s sentence sends that clear message.