Luton Man who harmed his child given ‘unduly lenient’ sentence – appeal judges
Appeal judges say the Luton man who harmed his child was given a lenient sentence
A man with a lengthy criminal record convicted of causing grievous bodily harm to his child was given an “unduly lenient” nine-year jail term, appeal judges have concluded.
Three appeal judges have increased the term to 12 years after Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson argued that the sentence was “unduly lenient” and should have been stiffer.
Lord Justice Singh, Mr Justice Lavender and Mr Justice Johnson considered arguments at a Court of Appeal hearing in London on Thursday.
They said the victim, a girl now aged four, could not be identified in media reports.
The man, who is now 28 and comes from Luton, Bedfordshire, had been handed a nine-year prison sentence earlier this year by Judge Alice Robinson, after being convicted of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and child cruelty following a trial at Norwich Crown Court.
Judges heard that the little girl’s parents were separated, and that she had been hurt while staying with her father.
She had suffered injuries including a broken arm and a “small” skull fracture.
The man had entered not guilty pleas.