A man who sexually assaulted a 5 year old has had his sentence increased by the Court of Appeal following intervention by the Solicitor General, the Rt Hon Michael Ellis QC MP.

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At the time of the offence, Green was on a suspended sentence for a previous charge of sexual assault of a child under 16. He was also prohibited from having any contact with girls under the age of 18 or residing at any address where any girl under the age of 18 also lived.

On 8 November 2019 Green was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court to 8 years’ imprisonment and 2 years’ extended licence.

Today, the Court of Appeal increased this 12 years’ imprisonment with 3 years’ extended licence, after the sentence was referred as being unduly lenient.

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Assaults on prison officers: (12 months to June 2019)

• Male prisons: up by 9%

• Female prisons: up by 40%

• Youth offender institutions: up by 60%

The proportion of assaults on staff:

• Female prisons 41%,

• Male prisons 30%

Campaign group Restore Justice put the focus on the murder victims, saying: “The system of statutory supervision of serious offenders who are released into the community on licence seems to be deeply flawed, when the number of murders committed by offenders under such supervision has almost doubled.

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“Murder is the most serious offence and the only category that has risen steadily among serious further offences in that period.

“Dangerous offenders should not be released early on licence and should serve in full the sentences they are handed down by the courts. Try to explain to the families of the victims why their loved one was murdered by someone who should be in prison. How is it ever safe to release lifers on licence into the community?

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“Life should mean life. That is what the public expect.”

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18 September 2019

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Parents hit out yesterday after learning nursery paedophile Vanessa George, Britain’s worst female sex offender 49, is free.

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RJ's view: Vanessa George was serving an indeterminate prison sentence for public protection (IPP). She was jailed in 2009 for a minimum of seven years.

She has never revealed the names of all of her toddler victims, which are believed to be around 30. She also showed no remorse. Her previous application got refused and delayed. 

She is released under "strict" conditions, which reportedly include no access to smart phones and devices with access to social media. How is this enforceable in this day and age even if she is monitored. Reports suggest she was not safe to be released and she has not been rehabilitated. The time she spent in prison is nothing compared to what the parents and child victims face. Many still do not know if they were abused or what was done to them. 

If George breaks the rules she only goes back to prison for two years! She is living in a hostel until she is GIVEN A FLAT. 

We will leave you to judge whether such a serious offender should have been released on a licence.

26 July, 2019

Victims Commissioner has called on the Attorney General and Justice Secretary to review the unduly lenient scheme to reflect new crimes and the impact on victims.

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Restore Justice welcomes the Commissioner's open letter.

However, the CEO of the Howard League for Penal Reform, Frances Crook has criticised the Victims Commissioner that the increase in sentences may lead to over-sentencing and questioned whether harsher punishment helps the victims.