Judge attacks paedophile sentencing rules

A JUDGE condemned sentencing guidelines which send offenders to prison for “a few months”, saying he is unable to properly punish a paedophile.

David Ticehurst said his hands were tied during a case against Graham Gleed, 50, who had admitted downloading thousands of images of children aged between three and 15.

The judge was unable to send Gleed, of Bridgwater in Somerset, to jail for long enough for him to complete a sex offenders treatment programme because of guidelines set out by the National Sentencing Council.

“If it weren’t for people like you, those little girls would not have suffered at the hands of people like you. The National Sentencing Council guidelines are simply too lenient,” said Judge Ticehurst. “I think that offenders like you should receive long prison sentences, but there is no point in lock- ing you up for a few months if you won’t receive treatment.”

Gleed was sentenced to a three-year community order and told to complete a 95-day sex offender programme. He was ordered to carry out 45 days of rehabilitation activities, 120 hours of unpaid work, and made the subject of a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and five years on the sex offender registry.