Tag: Attorney General

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 8 May 2025.

A man who groomed and sexually abused a child has had his sentence increased after the Solicitor General intervened.

Yusuf Kayat, 54, from Leeds has had his sentence increased by four years 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 the offences took place more than 30 years ago between 1989 and 1992. Kayat, who was known to the victim as ‘Kosh’, met the victim when he was 19 years old, and she was 10 years old.

Kayat started the offending by grooming the victim, driving her around in his car and buying her gifts, including alcohol, cigarettes, and cannabis.

After gaining her trust, he had sexual intercourse with the victim in various locations including in his car.

Kayat also forced the victim to perform sexual acts on his friends. Sometimes there would be multiple men, and Kayat would reward the victim with food from takeaways.

In a Victim’s Impact Statement, the victim said that since the offending she has experienced constant fear, anxiety, flack backs and panic attacks. The impact on the victim’s life has been profound and devastating.

The Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

Yusuf Kayat’s crimes were abhorrent. His grooming of the victim was highly calculated, who was only 10 years old when the abuse first began, before carrying out multiple sexual offences over several years.

I welcome the court’s decision to increase Kayat’s sentence. Today my thoughts are with Kayat’s victim & her family.

On 5 February 2025, Yusuf Kayat was sentenced to 20 years and a further one year on licence, after he was found guilty on 17 charges at Leeds Crown Court.

On 7 May 2025, Kayat’s sentence was quashed and substituted with a 24-year sentence and a further one year on 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 7 May 2025.

Violent offenders who abused women have had their sentences increased after Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP referred their cases to the Court of Appeal.

Rapists and domestic abusers, as well as other criminals, have had their sentences increased during the first three months of this year under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

Data published by the Attorney General’s Office shows that out of a total 48 cases heard by the Court of Appeal between January and March 2025, 33 sentences were increased.

Of these 33 sentences, 15 cases related to violent and sexual offences against women and girls. Nine were drug-related sentences and other offences included robbery, manslaughter, and conspiracy to traffic contraband into prison.

The largest sentence increase was for Rico Persechino who saw his jail term extended by six years after it was referred to the Court of Appeal.

Rico Persechino was part of an organised criminal group operating in Surrey that carried out multiple burglaries, a violent assault, and stole more than £215,000 of high-value cars.

Persechino’s sentence was increased from seven years’ and six months to 13 years’ and six months on 13 March 2025 after it was referred to the Court of Appeal.

The Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

The Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme exists to protect victims, and referrals to the Court of Appeal this year show that more perpetrators of violence against women and girls are being kept in jail for longer.

As Solicitor General, I will continue to refer cases that are unduly lenient to the courts to ensure that justice is secured, victims in these cases are protected, and that public trust in the criminal justice system can be restored.

Other cases between January and March that saw significant sentences increase include:

• Stuart Worby, 45, from Malthouse Court, Dereham, who had his sentence increased from 12 years to 17 years after giving a woman medication which caused her to have an abortion.
• Ryan Sutton, 24, from Worcester, who groomed and raped a 10-year-old he met on social media had his sentence increased by three years to a total of nine years’ imprisonment with a licence extension of 12 months.
• Jie Zhang, 42, from West London, had her sentence more than doubled from three years to eight years’ imprisonment for leading an international prostitution ring that recruited sex-workers from East Asia and Europe to work in brothels across London.

Notes to editors

The ULS scheme came into force on 1st February 1989. It was introduced after public outcry over the lenient sentencing of the offenders involved in the 1986 rape of a 21-year-old. The first ever ULS hearing took place in July 1989 for a man who committed incest and had his sentence doubled from three to six years.

The scheme was extended in 2017 to include an additional 19 terror-related offences, and again in 2019 to cover more sexual offences as well as coercive control and stalking and harassment involving violence.

Only one person needs to ask for a sentence to be reviewed and only certain types of case can be reviewed, such as: murder, manslaughter, rape and robbery.

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 2 May 2025.

A sex offender who sexually assaulted multiple young women and girls has had his sentence increased after the Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP intervened.

Robert Emmerson, 40, from Manchester, had his four-and-a-half years sentence increased to seven years with a further three on licence after it was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

The court heard that between 6 November 2023 and 15 April 2024, Emmerson committed five separate sexual assaults and seven acts of exposure against 11 girls and young women in central Manchester and Wythenshawe areas.

The victims said that Emmerson’s attacks took place in broad daylight and that they were “shocked” and “terrified” with some noting that he was smiling throughout.

The court also learned that Emmerson has a history of sexual offences, with previous convictions for indecent exposure and stalking. Some of his victims were schoolgirls.

Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

I was sickened and angered to read of the offenders’ numerous sexual assaults against women and young girls His increased sentence clearly shows that sex offenders will be brought to justice and face the penalty they deserve.

This government is committed to halving violence against women and girls in a decade as part of the Plan for Change and this increased sentence will keep predators like Emmerson off our streets. My thoughts today are with the young women attacked by Emmerson.

On 30 January 2025, Emmerson was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court for four years and six months for five counts of sexual assault, and seven counts of exposure. He also received a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and is subject to indefinite notification requirements.

On 1 May 2025, his sentence was increased to seven years with a further three on 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 2 May 2025.

A sexual predator who posed as a photographer to lure women to his home before sexually abusing them has sentence increased after Solicitor General intervenes.

Anthony Williams (40), from Gloucester, has had his eight-year sentence increased to 12 years by the Court of Appeal after the Solicitor General referred his case under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme.

The court heard that Williams pretended to be a professional photographer, approaching women online and luring them to his makeshift studio at his home.

During the photoshoot, Williams encouraged the women to undress before he sexually abused them.

He carried out 17 attacks over the course of nine photoshoots between July 2021 and December 2021.

In victim impact statements several women spoke about how much Williams had impacted their mental health. One victim said: “I find myself feeling like a mere shadow of my former self.”

The Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

Williams exploited and manipulated women into thinking they were taking part in professional photo shoots but this was just part of a grim scheme to brutally assault them for his own sexual gratification.

Protecting women and girls is an absolute priority for this government and I would like to offer my sympathies to the victims. I welcome the court’s increase to this sentence.

Anthony Williams was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment on 22 January 2025 after a jury at Gloucester Crown Court found him guilty of 14 counts of sexual assault, two counts of assault by penetration and one count of rape. The court also imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life.

On 15 April 2025 at the Court of Appeal, Anthony Williams had his sentence increased to 12 years.

The press release issued by the Attorney General on 17 April 2025.

A man who stabbed two people with a kitchen knife has his sentence increased to a decade after it was referred under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme to the Court of Appeal by Solicitor General, Lucy Rigby KC MP.

Ismail Uradde, 36, from East Ham, London, has had his sentence increased after an intervention under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme by the Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP.

The court heard that in the early morning of 26 July 2024, Uradde confronted two men outside his block of flats, accusing them of making a disturbance.

Brandishing a knife, Uradde confronted and proceeded to attack the men. Uradde stabbed one of them twice in his left thigh and stabbed the other man in the arm, leaving a deep wound.

Uradde then fled the scene, handing his knife over to a convenience store shopkeeper. The victims suffered significant blood loss but both men survived.

In court, one of the victims remarked on the impact of the attack, stating he still has “difficulty sleeping” and feels unsafe outside as he fears “he could be attacked again”.

The Solicitor General, Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

Ismail Uradde’s violent and unprovoked attack on the two victims was shocking. I welcome the Court of Appeal’s decision to more than double his sentence.

My thoughts are with the two victims of Uradde’s attack.

On 20 January 2025, Ismail Uradde was sentenced to three years and eight months’ imprisonment for two counts of wounding with intent and one count of having a bladed article.

On 15 April 2025, his sentence was increased to a decade after a referral to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme.

The press release issued by the Attorney General on 17 April 2025.

A dangerous driver who killed a teenage passenger and hospitalised another after driving at double the speed limit has had his sentence increased after Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP intervened.

Adam Ali, 20, from Manchester, has had his sentence increased by more than two years by the Court of Appeal after it was referred under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme.

The court heard that on the evening of 15 October 2022, Ali drove dangerously with three passengers in the car having passed his test a few months earlier.

Ali drove through a residential area in wet conditions, in excess of 60mph in an area with a 30mph speed limit. However, he lost control of the car and smashed it into a lamp post.

Ben Burbridge, a 16-year-old passenger in the back of the car, was pronounced dead at the scene after suffering catastrophic brain injuries.

Justin Saidi, who was 17 at the time, was hospitalised after he suffered multiple injuries including a collapsed lung, bleeding between his lung and ribcage and fractured ribs and shoulders.

The court heard that Ali had previously been caught speeding and misusing his car horn, and the fatal accident occurred while he was waiting for his speed awareness course to start.

While awaiting trial, Ali was caught speeding on two further occasions and later caused another road accident while banned from driving – all while inhaling a nitrous oxide canister at the wheel.

The Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

Ben Burbridge was only 16 years old when he died and he had his whole future ahead of him. His life was tragically cut short by Adam Ali’s dangerous driving.

I welcome the court’s decision to increase Ali’s sentence following my referral. This government is committed to ensuring those who drive dangerously are punished appropriately.

On 27 January 2025, Adam Ali was sentenced to 4 years detention for one count of death by dangerous driving and another for causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

On 15 April 2025, this sentence was quashed and substituted with a new sentence of 6 years and 4 months detention 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 9 April 2025.

Two rapists have had their sentences increased by the Court of Appeal after their cases were referred by the Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP.

The Solicitor General has secured sentence increases in two separate cases where the offenders committed sexual abuse.

In the first case, Paul Watson, 45, from Chorley, over a four-month period between January and April 2024, coerced and controlled a woman, and carried out multiple rapes.

The court heard that the victim submitted to the offender because she was terrified for her own safety.

In a separate case, Anthony McNamara, 46, from County Durham, groomed and repeatedly raped a young person for several years. The offending began when the victim was 12.

Following his arrest by the police in May 2024, McNamara was told not to contact the victim. However, he breached his bail conditions and continued to groom and engage in sexual activity with the victim.

The Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

I am sickened to read about these rapists’ crimes, who both repeatedly preyed on their victims and inflicted terror upon them.

I am glad that the court has rightly decided to increase both of these sentences, and my thoughts today are with the victims who suffered unimaginable abuse.

On 3 April 2025, Watson’s 17-year sentence was quashed, and the court imposed a sentence of life imprisonment, following the Solicitor General’s decision to refer it to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme.

On 3 April 2025, Anthony McNamara’s 13-year sentence was substituted for a total sentence of 23 years, comprising of 18 years custodial term and a 5-year extended license.

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

A violent robber who was caught wearing a jacket he had stolen has had his suspended sentence quashed and been sent to jail after the Solicitor General, Lucy Rigby KC MP intervened.

The Court of Appeal increased the sentence of 27-year-old Zakaria Mohamed from 21 months’ imprisonment suspended for 24 months to four years and nine months’ imprisonment.

This was the result of an intervention by the Solicitor General who referred the case under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme.

The court heard that the victim was on his way home after a night out in Leicester and was grabbed and dragged into a car in the early hours of 24 May last year. The victim was threatened with a kitchen knife and slapped as the group demanded his possessions.

The victim was forced to hand over his belongings which included a smartphone, ear pods, a tablet, trainers, tracksuit and designer bag, and his jacket worth around £1,300.

He was then told to get out of the vehicle before it sped off.

Following the robbery, police caught Mohamed outside a nightclub handling and inspecting the stolen items. He was also wearing the victim’s jacket.

In a victim impact statement after the incident, the victim said the robbery had led to him moving to another city and he continues to feel vulnerable every time he goes out.

The Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

This violent robbery was horrific and the substantial sentence increase following my intervention should serve as a stark warning that crime and lawlessness will not be tolerated.

Mohamed pleaded guilty to robbery, driving without a licence and driving without insurance on 3 October 2024 at Leicester Crown Court. He was sentenced at the same court to 21 months’ imprisonment suspended for 24 months on 19 December 2024.

The sentence was increased to a total of four years and nine months’ imprisonment at the Court of Appeal on 25 February 2025.

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

A man who gave medication to a woman and caused her to miscarry has had his sentence increased.

Stuart Worby, 40, from Malthouse Court, Dereham, has had his sentence increased to 17 years after it was referred to the Court of Appeal by the Solicitor General under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

The court heard that in 2022, after failing to convince the victim to terminate her pregnancy, Worby administered two drugs designed to induce miscarriages to the victim without her consent.

Worby obtained the drugs through an associate who rang a clinic, posing as a pregnant woman looking to terminate her pregnancy.

The first dose was dissolved into the victim’s drink. The second dose was physically inserted into the victim.

The victim suffered immediately from the drugs and Worby refused to seek medical help, even asking his associate for more drugs as he thought they hadn’t worked.

The next day the victim suffered a miscarriage and is now unable to have children.

The woman initially thought she had miscarried naturally but contacted the police after discovering messages on Worby’s phone to his friend saying, ‘its working’ and ‘there is a lot of blood’.

Worby accepted he had obtained the medication unlawfully but denied he ever gave it to the woman. He was found guilty of one count of administering a poison with intent to procure a miscarriage and one count of assault by penetration and on 6 December 2024, Stuart Worby was sentenced for 12 years at Norwich Crown Court.

The Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

I was disgusted by this offender’s appalling crimes and I welcome the court’s decision to increase his sentence following my referral under the Unduly Lenient Sentences scheme.

This is a stark warning to those who commit violent acts against women – you will face very serious consequences.

On 27 February 2025, Worby’s sentence was increased from 12 years to 17 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 18 February 2025.

A man who arranged a female genital mutilation (FGM) procedure for a young girl has had his jail sentence increased.

Emad Kaky, 48, has had his sentence increased after it was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

The court heard that in June 2019 Kaky arranged for a young girl to travel to Iraq for an FGM procedure and to be forced into marriage.

Kaky’s plans were uncovered by a witness who arranged for the victim to travel back to the UK from Iraq and reported Kaky to the police.

Kaky was convicted of conspiracy to commit FGM and forced marriage.

The Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

FGM is a sickening crime and this government is determined to stamp out the practice as part of our mission to halve violence against women and girls.

This offender intended to inflict grotesque physical and mental suffering upon a child. The court has rightly decided to increase his sentence to reflect the severity of his crime.

This was a landmark case, and I would like to commend the work of the CPS to successfully prosecute for the first time a charge of conspiracy to commit FGM.

Janine McKinney, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS East Midlands, said:

Female genital mutilation is a horrific crime to subject anyone to – let alone a child.

This landmark case sends a strong message to perpetrators – just because an offence has been committed somewhere else in the world does not stop you facing prosecution.

During the trial we presented evidence that the defendant considered his behaviour to be normal. Today, Emad Kaky has faced the consequences of his actions in trying to get a child subjected to female genital mutilation and be forced into a marriage not of her choosing.

The law is clear that there is no place for this unacceptable practice in society and the Crown Prosecution Service, police and other law enforcement agencies will work together to bring perpetrators to justice.

On 3 October 2024, Emad Kaky was sentenced to four and a half years’ imprisonment at Nottingham Crown Court for one count of conspiracy to commit FGM outside England and Wales and one count of forced marriage

On 24 January 2025, Kaky’s sentence was substituted for 7 years’ imprisonment after it was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.