Legal News
Court of Appeal increase sentence for rape (5 February 2016)
Date: 05/02/2016
The Court of Appeal has overturned the original prison sentence of a man convicted of rape and increased the jail term from three years to five-and-a-half years.
In November 2015, James Patton was convicted of rape at Burnley Crown Court.
The court heard that Patton had been caught taking advantage of a woman during a drunken night out.
The Solicitor General Robert Buckland QC MP applied to the court to have the original prison sentence overturned under the Unduly Lenient Sentences scheme.
After the Court of Appeal quashed the original sentence and imposed a five-and-a-half year jail term, Mr Buckland said:
“Given the circumstances of this case, I felt that the original sentence passed was unduly lenient and that a longer sentence should have been imposed.
“This case has had a terrible impact on the victim – and I hope this increased sentence gives them some additional comfort.”
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There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide and a criminal defence lawyer can usually reach a police station within an hour to advise on sexual offences during interview under caution.
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