Tag: Attorney General

The press release issued by the Attorney General on 10 March 2023.

A predator who told a woman he met online to sexually assault two young children has his sentence increased by more than two years.

Alan Nicholson, from High Harrington, Cumbria, had his case referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

In September 2021, Alan Nicholson (53) spoke to a woman online, called Louise, who he believed had two daughters, aged five years-old and a baby of four-months.

Their conversations revolved around serious acts of sexual abuse that Nicholson intended to carry out on Louise’s children.

However, Louise was an undercover police officer supporting Cumbria Constabulary’s Cyber and Digital Crime Unit.

Nicholson was found guilty on two counts of attempting to arrange/facilitate the commission of a child sex offence and received a three-year prison sentence.

He was also placed on the Sex Offender’s Register and given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years.

Following the sentencing at the Crown Court at Carlisle on 16 December 2022, the case was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

Nicholson’s original sentence was found to be unduly lenient by the Court of Appeal on 9 March 2023 and was increased to 5 years 9 months.

Speaking after the hearing, the Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson KC MP, said:

Alan Nicholson believed he was successfully arranging to carry out vile acts on very young children. Thankfully the person he was talking to was an undercover police officer, whose diligent and commendable work led to his imprisonment.

I would like to praise all of those involved for catching Alan Nicholson and helping prevent anyone else come to harm. A longer prison sentence for this despicable crime shows such behaviour cannot and will not be tolerated.

Detective Sergeant James Bailey of Cumbria Constabulary’s Cyber and Digital Crime Unit said:

We welcome the increased sentence given out to Nicholson.

Our specialist officers work hard behind-the-scenes all-year-round to deter offending, catch criminals and safeguard victims.

We will not tolerate those carrying out such crimes and will continue to do what we can to target those offending in this way and bring them to justice.

The press release issued by the Attorney General on 9 March 2023.

Attorney General Victoria Prentis KC MP took part in a three-day visit to Ukraine between March 2-4.

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 7 March 2023.

A paedophile who sexually assaulted 2 children under the age of 13 will spend an additional 4 years in prison following a challenge to his original sentence under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme, meaning he will now serve 15 years’ imprisonment plus 12 months’ extended licence.

Lee Wilson, 40, from South Shields, Tyne and Wear, was sentenced on 18 November 2022 for a total of seven counts of sexual offences against children. These included 3 counts of assault of a child under 13 by penetration, sexual assault of a child under 13 and making indecent photographs of a child.

At the original sentencing at Newcastle Crown Court, Wilson was ordered to serve 11 years’ imprisonment plus 12 months’ extended licence.

His sentence was then referred to the Court of Appeal by the Solicitor General, Michael Tomlinson KC MP, who felt that the sentence handed down to Wilson was unduly lenient.

Following today’s hearing at the Court of Appeal, the Solicitor General said:

The increased sentence handed down to Lee Wilson today shows that sexual crimes against children will always be met with the strongest possible punishment under the law. These were abhorrent crimes, and I welcome the decision of the Court to order Wilson to serve a sentence which better reflects his offending.

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 20 February 2023.

A drug dealer who supplied heroin and cocaine has had his sentence more than doubled following a hearing at the Court of Appeal on 17 February 2023 under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme and will now serve 6 years and 3 months in prison.

O’Neil Pendley, 30, pleaded guilty to two counts of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.

Pendley dealt heroin and cocaine on the streets in the Worcester area and has previous relevant convictions for drug offences.

Pendley was originally sentenced to 2 years and 9 months’ imprisonment at Worcester Crown Court on 09 December 2022.

The Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson KC MP then referred Pendley’s sentence to the Court of Appeal because he believed it was unduly lenient.

Speaking after the hearing at the Court of Appeal today, the Solicitor General said:

The class A drugs that Pendley supplied are dangerous and ruin lives.

I welcome the Court’s decision to order Pendley to serve a longer prison term, and hope the new sentence sends a clear message that the money made from dealing drugs will never be worth the punishment.

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 15 February 2023.

Kevin Humphries, from Worcester, had his 18-month sentence referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

Humphries now 60, was in his early 30s when he indecently assaulted two teenage boys in separate incidents.

Humphries knew his victims and pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault in October 2022 at Worcester Crown Court after one of the victims alerted the police in 2020.

The offender was given a sentence of 18 months’ imprisonment at Hereford Crown Court and given a sexual harm prevention order.

Following the sentencing on 22 November 2022, the case was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

Humphries’ original sentence was found to be unduly lenient by the court on 15 February 2023 and was increased to two years and six months.

Speaking after the hearing, the Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson KC MP said:

Kevin Humphries enticed two teenage boys with adult appropriate gifts before he abused their trust and carried out his sickening assaults.

The impact on his victims’ lives has been great and an increased sentence for Kevin Humphries shows that this appalling behaviour will not be accepted.

The press release issued by the Attorney General on 14 February 2023.

Two offenders who assisted the murderers of Ryan Kirkpatrick flee the country after he was fatally stabbed have been ordered to serve longer prison sentences.

Two offenders who assisted the killers of Ryan Kirkpatrick in 2021 have received longer prison sentences under the Unduly Lenient Scheme.

Ross Neville, 32, has been sentenced to an immediate prison term of 1 year and 10 months. He was originally given a one-year community payback order, which included 200 hours unpaid work.

Michael Celmins, 32, will now serve 2 years in prison. He was originally sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment.

In 2021 Kane Hull and Liam Porter murdered Ryan Kirkpatrick, 24 at the time, in Carlisle, Cumbria. They then fled the country to evade arrest.

Following the murder, the pair were assisted in fleeing the UK by Neville and Celmins.

On the night Mr Kirkpatrick was murdered, Neville provided Kane and Porter with accommodation and helped them travel out of Carlisle.

Celmins provided a stolen car to Hull and Porter. Phone evidence showed that Celmins was clearly aware of the murder of Mr. Kirkpatrick and knew that Hull was wanted by police.

Neville and Celmins were originally sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court on 5 December 2022. They were both charged with assisting an offender (murder).

Following the sentencing, the Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson KC MP referred their sentences to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Scheme.

Speaking after the hearing, the Solicitor General said:

Today I wish to express my sympathies to the family of Ryan Kirkpatrick.

Ross Neville and Michael Celmins shamefully assisted two brutal murderers flee the UK in a cowardly attempt to evade justice. It was clear to me that the original sentences given to the pair were not appropriate, so I welcome the decision of the Court to hand down sentences which better reflect the crimes that have taken place.

Olivia Memmory, 23, also helped Hull and Porter following the murder. Her original sentence of 19 months’ imprisonment remains unchanged.

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 2 February 2023.

Thief who ran over his victim as he tried to flee with stolen goods will spend longer in prison.

A thief who ran over his victim as he tried to flee with stolen goods will spend longer in prison after his case was referred under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

Jordan Peacock, 26, from Worksop, Nottinghamshire, was one of three men who stole toolboxes from an electrician working in Whitwell. When the electrician realised, he attempted to close the gates to prevent the getaway car leaving the premises.

Peacock drove the vehicle directly at the victim, running him down and destroying the gates, before attempting to drive away while the victim was still under the vehicle.

The electrician suffered grave injuries including fractured hip, collarbone, ribs and shoulder blade.

The other men fled the scene on foot as the iron gates had become stuck in the wheels of Peacock’s car.

Peacock pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent and two counts of theft and was sentenced at Derby Crown Court to 4 years and 3 months’ imprisonment.

Following the sentencing on 7 November 2022, the case was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

Peacock’s original sentence was found to be unduly lenient by the Court on 2 February 2023 and was increased to 6 years and 3 months.

Speaking after the hearing, the Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson KC MP said:

This is a shocking and brazen case. Jordan Peacock’s behaviour cannot be tolerated in our society, and this increased sentence better reflects this dreadful crime which has left a lasting impact on his victim.

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 27 January 2023.

Jamie Moreno was previously sentenced to 3 years and 2 months’ imprisonment for sexual assault.

A man who sexually assaulted a woman returning home after a night out has received an increased prison sentence after his case was referred under the unduly lenient sentence scheme.

Jamie Moreno’s victim woke to find him sexually abusing her in the back of his car when trying to return home after a night out.

Moreno, who was 55 at the time of the assault, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault by penetration.

On 30 June 2022 at Wood Green Crown Court, Moreno, aged 58, was sentenced to 38 months’ imprisonment.

The court ordered this was to run consecutive to a separate sentence of 24 months’ imprisonment passed down by the Crown Court at Inner London on 8 April 2022 for attempted assault by penetration and two counts of sexual assault.

Following the sentencing, the case was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

On 27 January 2023, the Court of Appeal found Moreno’s original sentence to be unduly lenient and increased it to 5 years’ imprisonment.

Speaking after the hearing, the Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson KC MP said:

Moreno took advantage of the victim’s vulnerable state and subjected her to a sickening sexual assault.

This increased sentence sends a clear message that sexual assault is never acceptable and will be met with robust punishment.

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s office on 25 January 2023.

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 19 January 2023.

A cocaine dealer who conspired with others to supply large quantities of the class A drug across the south of England will spend extra time in prison after his original sentence was found to be unduly lenient.

Harry McCusker, 28, of Middlesex, worked as part of a large-scale operation to supply cocaine across the south of England. During the operation, McCusker and other conspirators would receive up to 20kg of cocaine at a time before distributing the class A drug across areas including London, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall.

As part of the sophisticated operation, substantial quantities of money were laundered, leading to McCusker also being convicted of conspiracy to convert criminal property.

On 28 October 2022, at Lewes Crown Court, McCusker was sentenced to 4 years and 9 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to supply a class A drug and conspiracy to convert criminal property.

His sentence was then referred to the Court of Appeal as Unduly Lenient.

On 19 January 2023 the Court quashed McCusker’s original sentence, and he will now have to serve a sentence of 6 years and 4 months’ imprisonment.

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

“Harry McCusker was directly involved in a wide-scale operation to supply enormous quantities of a dangerous, harmful and illegal class A drug. I hope that the increased sentence handed down by the Court today will send the message that no amount of money offered for dealing drugs will ever be worth the punishment.”