Tag: Attorney General

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.

The press release issued by the Attorney General on 1 December 2022.

The press release issued by the Attorney General on 1 December 2022.

A man who sexually assaulted a woman in her flat has been ordered to spend longer in prison after his sentence was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

After entering the flat of the victim, Jamie Hardman, 33, went into her bedroom and got into her bed. The victim was unwell and had her back to Hardman and thought it was her partner who just got into the bed with her.

Hardman then carried out the assault which caused the victim to run and lock herself in the bathroom. Hardman then left the flat.

On 31 August 2022 at Inner London Crown Court, Hardman was sentenced to 3 years and 4 months’ imprisonment for assault by penetration.

His sentence was then referred to the Court of Appeal for being too low.

On 01 December 2022, the Court ruled that Hardman’s original sentence was unduly lenient and handed down a new sentence of 4 years and nine months’ imprisonment.

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

“Jamie Hardman demonstrated shocking predatory behaviour and put the victim of this crime through a terrifying ordeal. I welcome the decision to increase his sentence and hope that this ruling sends the message that crimes of sexual violence will never be tolerated.”

The press release issued by the Attorney General on 30 November 2022.

A man who raped a victim will spend longer in prison after his sentence was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

The offender, who cannot be named for legal reasons, raped the victim after his behaviour towards her had become controlling and coercive for a number of years. The controlling and coercive behaviour both included physical violence and taking away her bank cards. Following the rape, the victim called the police and the offender was subsequently arrested.

On 25 August 2022 at Snaresbrook Crown Court the offender was sentenced to 4 years and 6 months’ imprisonment for one count of rape and one count of controlling or coercive behaviour.

His sentence was then referred to the Court of Appeal for being too low.

On 30 November 2022 the Court ruled that the original sentence was unduly lenient, and handed down a new sentence of 8 years imprisonment.

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

“The offender displayed utterly shameful behaviour before committing a dreadful act of rape. While no sentence can repair the harm brought about his actions, I am satisfied with the Court’s decision to hand down a sentence which is a better reflection of the severity of his crimes.”

The press release issued by the Attorney General on 29 November 2022.

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has made significant progress towards better record keeping, case assurance and resourcing, following recommendations made by Sir David Calvert-Smith, the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has announced today.

Following the Court of Appeal’s judgment in the Unaoil case (R. v Akle & Anor) in December 2021, the then Attorney General, the Rt Hon. Suella Braverman KC MP, commissioned Sir David Calvert-Smith to conduct an independent review into the SFO’s handling of the case.

Sir David’s review, and a response to his 11 recommendations, were published on 21 July 2022. Following the commitment made when the review was published, the Attorney General, the Rt Hon. Victoria Prentis MP today updated parliament on the progress that has been made in delivering Sir David’s recommendations. The AGO has also published a detailed progress update.

At the same time, the SFO has also today published an update on its progress to date against the recommendations set out in Brian Altman KC’s independent review of R. v Woods & Marshall, which was also published on 21 July 2022.

Commenting on the updates, the Solicitor General, Michael Tomlinson MP said:

The Attorney General and I are pleased to see real progress being made in line with Sir David’s review. The Serious Fraud Office has put measures in place for nine of his 11 recommendations and in the longer term, work has begun on the remaining two to make sure these important changes are completed to a high standard.

We also welcome the SFO’s further improvement work, highlighted today, in bringing forward and implementing the recommendations set out in Brian Altman’s KC’s review of R. v Woods & Marshall.

Continued work to deliver and embed the recommendations of both reviews will remain a key priority for both the Law Officers and the Director of the SFO.

Commenting on the updates, Director of the Serious Fraud Office, Lisa Osofsky said:

We haven’t stopped fighting serious economic crime, as shown by the recent sentencing of Glencore Energy UK Ltd for seven counts of bribery and a record-breaking penalty, which the company paid in full last week.

“Thanks to the dedication and persistence of my team, we are on track to embed the organisational improvements that will ensure our continued success.”