Tag: Attorney General

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 17 June 2025.

A rapist who attacked two women in the same night has had his sentence extended following the Solicitor General’s intervention.

Haider Ali, 31, from Middlesbrough, had his sentence extended by five years following an intervention under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme by the Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP.

The court heard that on 7 September 2024, Ali travelled from his home in Middlesbrough to Stockton.

Ali followed a woman to the back of a disused building, before raping her. The attack lasted almost an hour. Ali was captured on CCTV running away.

Shortly after, Haider Ali raped a second woman on the Yarm Road. Again, Ali was captured on CCTV running away before the victim, who was pregnant, called the police.

In a Victim Personal Statement, one victim said the attack was constantly on their mind and could not carry out day-to-day activities without thinking of the attack.

The Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

“This was a truly horrific case, and I want to commend the brave victims who came forward to put Haider Ali behind bars.

“I strongly welcome the Court’s decision to extend this offender’s prison term.”

Ali was charged with three counts of rape. On 17 March 2025, Ali was sentenced at Teeside Crown Court to an extended sentence of 12 years compromising of 10 years’ imprisonment with a licence extension of two years.

On 17 June 2025, his sentence was increased to 17 years comprising of 15 years’ imprisonment with a license extension of two years a referral to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme.

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 6 June 2025.

A member of an organised crime operation that trafficked cocaine across the Southwest has had his sentence increased, after the Solicitor General intervened.

Stephen Wills, 36, from Bridford, Exeter, has had his sentence increased by five years under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme, following an intervention by the Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP.

The court heard that between 2019 and 2020, Wills was part of two organised crime groups that trafficked tens of thousands of pounds-worth of cocaine across the country.

The group delivered drugs from a foreign crime group operating in London to drug dealers around Exeter.

Wills played a significant role operating from the rented farmhouse where he lived with his family, using the outbuildings to store and package cocaine and to harvest and produce cannabis.

Police discovered this when the offender was stopped in his vehicle and arrested on 1 May 2020.

A subsequent investigation of the property found several firearms, ammunition and more than a quarter kilogram of cocaine, with a wholesale value of over £46,000.

The court also heard that Wills had 33 previous convictions, including for firearm offences. Wills was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition for five years in 2018. In 2021, he was convicted for three offences relating to possession of an air rifle and ammunition

The Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

This offender was part of two organised crime gangs which trafficked significant quantities of drugs across the country.

We know that the impact of organised crime on our communities is devastating and I welcome the Court’s decision to increase Wills’ sentence following my intervention.”

On 13 March 2025, Stephen Wills was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment at Exeter Crown Court after he was sentenced for conspiracy to supply and possession with intent to supply class A and B drugs and possession of a prohibited firearm.

On 5 June 2025, Wills’ sentence was increased from nine years to 14 years after it was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence.

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 5 June 2025.

Victims of rape and serious sexual assaults who face their cases being dropped by prosecutors will, for the first time, be given the right to have it reviewed by a different prosecutor, as part of the Government’s pledge to halve violence against women and girls and its Plan for Change.

• New pilot to empower victims by giving them the right to ask for a review if prosecutors plan to drop cases
• Plans will restore confidence in the system and help get victims the justice they deserve
• The changes are one step in the Government’s pledge to halve violence against women and girls in a decade, part of the Plan for Change

Under the current system, criminal cases can be stopped at any point if a prosecutor decides there is no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.

Through the changes announced today, for the first time, survivors of rape or serious sexual abuse will be offered the right for their case to be reviewed by a different prosecutor before any final decisions are made, and if that prosecutor determines there is enough evidence, the case will continue.

The move will help to restore confidence in the justice system, get victims the answers they deserve and put perpetrators behind bars.

Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

This Government is treating violence against women and girls with the seriousness it deserves, committing to halving this horrific crime as part of our Plan for Change.

Part of that is about empowering victims and improving their experience of the criminal justice system. That’s exactly why I have worked with the CPS on a new pilot scheme for victims of rape and serious sexual assault, which will allow victims an enhanced right of review in cases where the CPS intends to offer no evidence, importantly prior to a case being stopped.

Campaigners and experts tell me that this is what they want, and I want to thank them for their advocacy on this vital issue.

There is much more to do. But this is a further step towards the criminal justice system that victims deserve, and one which will ultimately make Britain’s streets safer.

Jade Blue McCrossen-Nethercott, campaigned for a change after the CPS dropped her case by offering no evidence in court. A subsequent VRR said the prosecution should have gone ahead but could not be reinstated.

She said:

I’m hugely excited about what this pilot could mean for victims, and I hope it proves successful enough to be rolled out across the country. This pilot is a crucial safeguard – one that could have completely changed the outcome in my case, and so many others like it.

I was profoundly failed and let down by how my case was handled, but I’ve since seen people within the CPS who are genuinely working to make it better.

Siobhan Blake, CPS lead for rape and Chief Crown Prosecutor of CPS West Midlands said:

We know for rape victims, the prospect of their case being stopped can be absolutely devastating.

Although they can request a review of our decision making now, if we have already stopped the case in court, there is nothing that can be done to reactivate the case if that review comes to a different conclusion. In those circumstance we offer an apology, but appreciate that for a victim an apology rarely goes far enough or feels like a just outcome.

This pilot offers greater reassurance for victims. It means that they will be alerted to the prospect of their case being stopped earlier, so that they can ask for a review by a different prosecutor. If the original decision is reversed then the case will continue, but even if it can’t, we hope that victims will have more confidence in the process and the earlier scrutiny of our decision making.

Rape cases are incredibly complex and sensitive. We have specially trained prosecutors who do an excellent job building strong cases. This pilot offers an earlier check and balance which provides extra reassurance for victims.

The pilot, which launches this week, is starting in the West Midlands, with the intention for it to be rolled out nationwide if found to be successful.

Today’s announcement is just one step in the Government’s commitment to restore confidence in the justice system and protect victims of sexual abuse.

Since coming into office, the Government has already taken immediate action including putting domestic abuse specialists in the first five 999 control rooms under Raneem’s Law, launching new domestic abuse protection orders in select areas, announcing new measures to tackle stalking and investing nearly £20 million in funding for specialist services which support victims of abuse.

Notes to editors

When a prosecutor identifies a case which they believe is eligible for the pilot, they escalate to a senior manager and the review timetable will be set and a second reviewer found.

A letter will be sent to the victim letting them know of the proposal to bring to the prosecution to an end and explaining why. They will then be given the chance to have that decision reviewed and given a set period to respond. If they request a review, the aim is that this will be completed within 20 working days.

Where a case does not qualify for the pilot, victims will be still be able to request a review through the standard VRR scheme.

Once a review is complete, a Local Case Management Panel will approve the decision either to proceed with the prosecution or to offer no evidence. The victim will be informed of the final decision.

The pilot, which launches this week, is starting in the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Unit of CPS West Midlands. The pilot has been designed to assess how the flexibility of offering an earlier review can be operated by the CPS.

Care has also been taken to balance the interests of the victim, the defendant and the prosecutorial independence of CPS. This means that the CPS will decide when its internal review process is complete and when no evidence will be offered.

The pilot also recognises the need to progress the review in a way that maintains fairness to a defendant.

The pilot will run initially for six months with each case in scope evaluated individually before the pilot is evaluated and decisions are taken on next steps.

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 27 May 2025.

A man who violently abused and coercively controlled his partner has had his suspended sentence quashed following an intervention by the Attorney General.

Philip Humphreys, 39, from Stoke-on-Trent, has had his suspended sentence quashed and replaced with a two year and four month prison sentence after it was referred to the Court of Appeal by the Attorney General, Lord Hermer KC, under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

The court heard that Humphreys and his partner began their relationship in April 2022 and quickly moved in together. However, Humphreys soon became controlling and coercive.

He repeatedly accused her of wanting to have sex with other men, constantly checked where she was and controlled what she wore.

Humphreys took around £6,000 from the victim, with the majority being spent on drugs, threatened to kill himself, aggressively shouted at her, and threw furniture.

Whilst on holiday, Humphreys violently assaulted the victim, which included strangling her and dragging her backwards. He only stopped when a hotel receptionist disturbed him.

After they broke up, Humphreys continued to intimidate the victim, repeatedly driving past her house.

Attorney General Lord Hermer KC said:

“Philip Humphreys’ carried out a sustained physical and psychological campaign of abuse against his victim, who must have been in a constant state of fear. My thoughts today are with the victim, and I commend her bravery for coming forward.”

“Philip Humphreys is a violent man, and I welcome the court’s decision to increase his sentence. I hope this case serves a strong warning to domestic abusers that we will use the full force of the law to keep violent abusers off our streets.”

On 7 March 2025, Philip Humphreys was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment suspended for two years, with 200 hours of unpaid work and a 25 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement Days for one count of controlling and coercive behaviour.

On 23 May 2025, his sentence was increased to two years and four months’ imprisonment after it was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 27 May 2025.

Douglas Wilson KC (Hon) OBE, Director General of the Attorney General’s Office (AGO), is pleased to announce that Michael Padfield has been appointed Director and Deputy Head of the AGO following an open and fair recruitment process across the Civil Service.

Michael started his career as a commercial lawyer in the City of London before joining the litigation team in the Treasury Solicitor’s Department in 2014.

Since then, he has worked as a lawyer in a number of roles within the Government Legal Department, including in the Home Office and His Majesty’s Treasury, before first joining the AGO in 2020 then becoming Head of the Domestic Law Team in 2021.

Michael was appointed General Counsel in the Prime Minister’s Office in No10 in the autumn of 2023, a role which is staffed from AGO.  Michael has been a member of the Executive Board at AGO since 2021.

Commenting on the appointment, Douglas Wilson KC (Hon) OBE said:

I’m absolutely delighted to announce Michael as Director at the AGO and my deputy.  Michael is a great lawyer and a strong leader who brings considerable experience of working on the hardest legal problems in government. He is a trusted adviser to the Law Officers and to other Ministers, and has a wide network in No10 and across Whitehall.

I look forward to working together with Michael to support the Law Officers and lead the AGO in making law and politics work together at the heart of the UK constitution.

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 27 May 2025.

A carer who sexually abused a disabled child in his care has had his sentence more than doubled increased following an intervention by Solicitor General.

Jamil Talukder, 23, from Sheffield, has had his sentence increased by five years after it was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

The court heard that Talukder arrived in the UK from Bangladesh in October 2022 to study for a marketing degree.

He was employed as a carer and began caring for a severely disabled child in October 2023. However, covert recording by the child’s mum, who became suspicious, revealed that Talukder sexually abused the child on several occasions.

Victim personal statements reveal that the child distrusts male carers since his assault by Talukder.

The court also heard that Talukder sexually abused another child and was caught out when it was discovered that he had recorded the abuse on his phone.

Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

Jamil Talukder preyed on a vulnerable child he was meant to be taking care of, as well as another young child.

He abused the trust that was placed in him for his own sexual gratification, and I welcome the Court’s increase to his sentence.  I would like to extend my sympathies to his victims and their families.

On 27 February 2025, Jamil Talukder was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment at Sheffield Crown Court for six sexual abuse offences.

On 22 May 2025, his sentence was revised to eight years after it was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 15 May 2025.

A violent man who assaulted and harassed his ex-partner in a sustained campaign of abuse has had his sentence extended after the Solicitor General intervened.

Jordan Crewe (27), from Caerphilly, has had his two-year sentence increased after the Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP referred his case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

The court heard that Crewe was sentenced to 16 months in March 2022 for harassment and malicious communication offences committed against his ex-partner. The court also placed Crewe under a 12-year restraining order.

On the same day that Crewe was released on license in the October, he immediately breached his bail conditions when he barged into his ex-partner’s home before assaulting her and deflating her tyres.

The next day, Crewe visited his ex-partner’s home and, even after he was recalled to prison, continued to harass his ex-partner, sending abusive letters, messages and phone calls. He also asked his ex-partner to drop the charges against him.

Crewe was released from prison in May 2023 under strict conditions not to contact his ex-partner unless for extenuating circumstances.

However, a year later Crewe reignited his campaign of harassment. Over three months, Crewe sent unsolicited text messages asking the victim where she was, he activated a tracker app on the victim’s phone without her consent, he didn’t allow his ex-partner to see her family without him present and controlled what she wore.

Crewe sent videos where he simulated committing suicide, groped her in public, assaulted her and bit his ex-partner’s face.

The abuse and harassment culminated in an incident on New Years Eve where the victim was in a car with Crewe before he shouted at her, threatened to assault the victim’s family, and eventually assaulted his ex-partner in her car.

In a victim personal statement read to the court, the victim said that she was a happy bubbly person but now a shell of the person she was before. She also added that the mental and emotional abuse suffered will stay with her forever.

The Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

Jordan Crewe’s tirade of abuse against his ex-partner was appalling.  He carried out a systematic campaign of violence and coercive control.  Thankfully the Court has recognised the severity of Crewe’s actions and increased his sentence.

On 18 February 2025, Jordan Crewe was sentenced to two years at Cardiff Crown Court for one count of harassment, one count of strangulation, one count of Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm, and one count of controlling or coercive behaviour.

On Thursday 15 May 2025, the Court of Appeal extended Crewe’s sentence to two years and ten months’ under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 13 May 2025.

A dangerous predator who encouraged another man to rape and sexually assault a baby has had his sentence increased after the Solicitor General intervened.

Keith Edun, 48, from Croydon, London, has had his sentence increased after the Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP referred his case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

The court heard that Edun was a member of a group chat interested in the sexual abuse of babies on the social media platform ‘Kik’.

In March 2020, Edun communicated with another member of the group and in those discussions encouraged the rape and sexual assault of a child. Edun also shared videos of babies being sexually abused.

A separate investigation led to the conviction of a male for offences including the rape of a baby which occurred in March 2020, which led police to Edun.

After police seized Edun’s devices, officers found multiple indecent images of children and that he had deleted the app to hide his online activity.

Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

Keith Edun is a dangerous sexual predator who poses a serious risk to children. His crimes were deeply disturbing, and I would like to thank the police for their thorough investigation of this matter.

The court has rightly decided to increase Edun’s sentence which I hope sends a strong message that this government will take robust action to keep dangerous sex offenders off our streets.

On 14 February 2025, Keith Edun was sentenced at Croydon Crown Court to an extended sentence of 21 years and 6 months comprising 13 years and six months custodial term and an eight year extended licence.

On 13 May 2025, Edun’s original sentence was quashed and substituted with an extended sentence of 24 years and 2 months, comprising 16 years and 2 months custodial term and an eight year extended licence, after it was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme.

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on the Attorney General’s Office on 13 May 2025.

Three child sex abusers have had their sentences increased for historic offences after the Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP intervened.

Three men who raped a vulnerable teenager in the 1990s have had their sentences increased by a total of eight years, after the Solicitor General referred the case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

The court heard that the victim moved to Keighley, Yorkshire, in the early 1990s when she was a teenager, where she met Ibrar Hussain (47) and brothers Imtiaz (64) and Fayaz Ahmed (45).

The victim was vulnerable and was supplied with money, drugs and alcohol in return for sex. She was taken to various places where she was raped over several years, including by Hussain and the Ahmed brothers.

Ibrar Hussain and Fayaz Ahmed were 18 and 17 respectively when they carried out their offences, while Imtiaz Ahmed was in his 30s.

Many of the offences took place in the flats above the brothers’ family’s grocery shop.

In a Victim Impact Statement read to the court, the victim said that almost 30 years after the abuse, she still suffered flashbacks and the trauma left her unable to trust people, including the services there to protect her.

The court also learnt that Ibrar Hussain had prior drug convictions, while Fayaz Ahmed had been convicted of conspiracy to defraud and driving offences.

The Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

This case involved the shocking and hideous abuse of a vulnerable teenager by these three sexual predators.

I referred these sentences to Court of Appeal because in my view they were unduly lenient.

I attended court today for the hearing and I very much welcome the Court of Appeal’s significant increases to these sentences.

On 17 January 2025, Ibrar Hussain was sentenced to six years and six months for two counts of rape, Imtiaz Ahmed was sentenced to nine years for one count of rape, and Fayaz Ahmed was sentenced to seven years and six months for two counts of rape.

On 13 May 2025, Hussain’s sentence was increased to 10 years, Imtiaz Ahmed’s to 11 years, and Fayaz Ahmed’s was increased to 10 years after their sentences were referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme.