Law Weblog

Concern over discount for guilty plea

The Lord Chief Justice called together a strong Court of Appeal of 5 judges to hear an appeal by the Attorney General against the unduly lenient sentence of a man who raped and indecently assaulted (and took photographs of the acts) a 12-week-old baby.
Alan Webster 40 from Hatfield had his minimum jail term increased from six to eight years. The sentence of his accomplice, Tanya French, will remain the same. Although Webster can apply for parole his depravity was such that it is possible he will die in jail.
The Lord Chief Justice referred to The Sentencing Guidelines Council the court’s misgivings about the discount available when an offender pleads guilty even though – as in this case – he is caught red-handed.