Tag: Attorney General

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.”

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 18 January 2023.

A man who raped a woman twice has had his jail term increased after the case was referred to the Court of Appeal for being unduly lenient.

Samuel Moulder, now 34, denied attacking the woman twice in 2017. The first offence took place in a hotel and the second, which was aggressive and violent, took place in the victim’s own home.

On 8 September 2022 at Gloucester Crown Court, Moulder was sentenced to eight years in prison, he was given a restraining order against his victim and placed on the sex offenders register for life.

Following the sentencing, it was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme for being too low.

On 18 January 2023, the Court found his original sentence to be unduly lenient and increased it to 12 years’ imprisonment.

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

“Rape is always a horrific crime, but this case has had particularly awful repercussions on his victim.

I welcome this increased sentence which better reflects the long-term harm caused. It sends a clear message that violent, sexual offences will be addressed with vigorous punishment.”

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 18 January 2023.

A man found with more than 4,000 indecent images of children on his devices will now spend time in prison after his previous sentence was found to be unduly lenient.

Kevin Porter, 62, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children and three counts of taking indecent images of children, at Guildford Crown Court.

He was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, ordered to do 40 days of Rehabilitation, given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years and a Deprivation Order.

Following the sentencing on 11 November 2022, it was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme for being too low.

Porter’s original sentence was found to be unduly lenient by the Court on 17 January 2023 and was increased to an immediate imprisonment of 3 years and 4 months.

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

“This is an appalling case. This abhorrent behaviour cannot be accepted, and this increased sentence better reflects this shocking crime.”

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 21 December 2022.

A man found guilty of child cruelty and assault is facing jail after the case was referred to the Court of Appeal for being unduly lenient.

Michael Egan, now 77, abused the child over 30 years ago when he was aged between 42 and 47. Among the offences, Egan would tell the victim her mother didn’t love her, force her to take cold showers and throw cold water over her when she was in bed. He also kicked her repeatedly in the ribs and burnt her with a lit cigarette. Egan had previously been convicted of wounding the child by throwing a cup at her face.

On 17 October 2022, he was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment suspended for 24 months and ordered to pay £1,000 costs.

Following the sentencing at Norwich Crown Court, it was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme for being too low.

On 21 December 2022, the Court found his original sentence to be unduly lenient and increased it to four years’ imprisonment.

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

Egan’s cruel and unspeakable physical and mental abuse have left a significant and lasting impact on his victim’s life.

Child cruelty is never acceptable so I welcome this increased sentence showing that those that commit such cowardly crimes will face significant punishment as a result.

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 20 December 2022.

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 20 December 2022.

An offender who abused two victims has been ordered to spend longer in prison after his sentence was determined to be unduly lenient.

Mark Rooney, 35, committed numerous offences against the first victim including assaulting them while on holiday, forcing himself into their home while armed with a baseball bat and threatening to share private images of her.

The victim also had to go to hospital after sustaining an injury to her lower back and substantial bruising to other body parts which were inflicted by the offender.

Whilst on bail for these offences, Rooney threw a can of beer at a different victim before threatening to burn her face with a BBQ. When this victim tried to retrieve their mobile phone from Rooney, he hit her in the face with it, causing her to lose consciousness.

On 17 October 2022, at Liverpool Crown Court, Rooney was sentenced to 42 weeks’ imprisonment for offences including putting a person in fear of violence by harassment and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

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

On 20 December 2022 the Court quashed Rooney’s original sentence and handed down a new sentence of 74 weeks’ imprisonment.

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

Mark Rooney displayed shameful behaviour and put both of the victims through a terrifying ordeal. I hope the decision to imprison him for longer sends the message that such vile abusive actions will never be tolerated.

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 14 December 2022.

A training programme for Ukrainian judges set to conduct trials for war crimes has begun as part of UK efforts to secure justice for the country’s citizens.