A child sex offender has had his jail sentence increased following an intervention by the Solicitor General, Rt Hon Michael Ellis QC MP.
Paul Fox, 43, was found guilty of a series of child sex offences in September 2020. The offences took place between 2004 and 2005, when Fox was 27. The victims were aged between 13 and 15 at the time of the offences.
On 9 September 2020, Fox was sentenced to 9 years' imprisonment and a sexual harm prevention order for life at Preston Crown Court.
Following the court's decision, the Solicitor General referred the sentence to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme. On 25 February the Court found the sentence to be unduly lenient and increased it to 12 years' imprisonment.
After the hearing at the Court of Appeal the Solicitor General, Rt Hon Michael Ellis QC MP, said:
The victims have suffered a significant amount of distress and psychological harm as a result of Fox's actions. I hope the Court of Appeal's decision to increase his sentence will bring some closure to them.
