APPEAL JUDGES UP JAIL TERMS
JUDGES in 11 cases in Wales gave unduly lenient sentences to thugs convicted of offences including murder. At Cardiff Crown Court in June last year Sean Buckley, 29, was found guilty of murdering his partner’s 17-month old son, Finley Thomas.
Finley’s mother Chloe Thomas, 25, was convicted of child cruelty because she failed to intervene while her son was suffering at Buckley’s hands.
Buckley left Finley with a fractured skull and broken ribs. He claimed the youngster had fallen down stairs.
Finley also had historical injuries consistent with being assaulted, neglected and having been exposed to illegal and prescription drugs.
The Court of Appeal raised Buckley’s term from life with a minimum 17 years to life – minimum 20 years.
Thomas had her sentence increased from 20 to 30 months. Appearing at London’s Criminal Appeal Court over a video link from prison, she wept as the judge said her failure to seek help for her son deserved a tougher sentence.
The Attorney General Jeremy Wright QC MP said: “The Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme allows victims of crime, their families and the public to challenge sentences that they believe are too low. Last year we saw a record number of sentences increased.”
Fourteen cases originally heard at crown courts in Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil and Mold last year were sent to the Court of Appeal because the sentences were considered too low.
Of the 11 increased two were community sentences replaced with prison terms. One related to a sex offence.
In total, criminals in Wales will serve an extra 34 years behind bars.
Two sentences were unchanged by the Court of Appeal.
“A sentencing exercise is not an exact science and in the vast majority of cases, judges get it right,” the Attorney General said.
“The scheme is available to en- sure that the Solicitor General and I can independently review those cases where there may have been an error in... sentencing.”
Under the ULS scheme, victims of crime and the public can ask for sentences to be reviewed.
The Attorney or Solicitor General then asks the Court of Appeal to review the sentence to have it increased if they believe the Court made a mistake.
From August 8, the scheme will cover a further 19 terror-related offences.