Hawick rapist has 'unduly lenient' prison sentence extended
A 39-year-old man found guilty of raping two women and sexually assaulting a third has had his prison sentence increased on appeal.
Anthony Plaskett, formerly of Hawick, was given a five-year prison term at the High Court in Edinburgh in January, which prosecutors argued was unduly lenient.
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service asked the court to consider imposing a longer custodial term due to the overall seriousness of the offending involved.
In a decision published this week, the Lord Justice Clerk Lady Dorrian has upheld the Crown’s appeal.
The original five-year prison term has been quashed and replaced with an eight-year sentence.
Kenny Donnelly, Deputy Crown Agent for COPFS, said: “Unduly lenient sentence appeals are not common but are important to ensure the public interest is properly served by asking the court to examine again sentences which appear to the Crown to fall outside of the range of punishment reasonably considered appropriate.
“The Crown believes that it is important that the harm caused by sexual offending, and the culpability of the convicted person, is consistently reflected in sentencing decisions.
“The Crown has a responsibility in legislation to consider undue leniency in sentencing and we note the decision of the Appeals Court."
He added: “We recognise the devastating impact sexual offences can have on all those affected and will always seek to ensure the effective, rigorous, and fair prosecution of sexual crime.”
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Plaskett was found guilty of three charges in December 2023, following a trial.
In April 2021, he sexually assaulted a woman and raped another on the same day at properties in Hawick.
He was convicted of raping a third woman in February 2020 at an address in Bo'ness, West Lothian.
The mother of one of his victims is welcoming the judgement. She said: "I have always said I do believe in karma (and) now I also believe in the judicial system in this country.
"So nice to know the girls and women of Hawick can walk free because Tony Plaskett won't be out any time soon .
"I hope he rots in hell for what he has put my daughter and these other women through. Good will always win over evil."
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