UK: The battle between the British government and "unduly lenient" judges intensified last night when the home secretary, John Reid, demanded a review of the sentence passed on a convicted paedophile within hours of it being handed down.
Craig Sweeney (24) was jailed for life at Cardiff crown court for the kidnapping and sexual assault of a three-year-old girl, but was told he could be considered for parole after five years and 108 days.
The attack happened two days after the licence on which Sweeney had been released from prison had expired. He had served 18 months of a three-year sentence for the indecent assault of a six-year-old.
Sweeney, who was known to his victim's family, snatched the girl from her Cardiff home at bedtime on January 2nd this year while her mother was on the phone. He drove her to his Newport flat where he sexually assaulted her three times.
His victim's family voiced their anger at the fact that he could be considered for parole after only five years, describing the sentence as "an insult" and complaining that such grave failings in the criminal justice system needed to be urgently addressed.
Mr Reid responded within hours by writing to the attorney general, Lord Goldsmith, voicing his concern that the five-year tariff did not reflect the seriousness of the crime and urging him to refer the case to the court of appeal.
Figures released last week by the attorney general detailed 339 cases in the past three years - involving one in 10 of all judges - who have had their sentences referred to the court of appeal for being unduly lenient.
Lord Goldsmith's office said last night he would make a decision on whether to refer the case within the next 28 days. It was clear, however, that he was irritated by the political pressure exerted by Mr Reid's swift response.
The victim's family cautiously welcomed news of the intervention. Anne Tyson, their solicitor, said: "While the family welcomes the action by the Home Office to review today's sentence, we need to see a firm commitment by the government and judiciary that this type of heinous crime is properly punished."
The tariff in Sweeney's case was set yesterday by Judge John Griffith Williams. He said Sweeney was a "thoroughly devious man" who had kidnapped the little girl for his own sexual gratification.
The judge told Sweeney he would have to serve a minimum of five years and 108 days before being considered for parole but it was "unlikely" he would get early release.
In calculating the sentence, the judge would have had an 18-year minimum tariff as a starting point for conviction on charges of kidnapping and three counts of sexually assaulting a child under 13.
Sweeney would have got a discount of one-third for his early guilty pleas, bringing the tariff down to 12 years. As prisoners serve only 50 per cent of "determinate" sentences before they are considered for parole, this would then be reduced to six years. The five years and 108 days tariff passed by the judge reflects the time Sweeney has served on remand. - (Guardian service)