A man found guilty of sexual offences against a child has had his sentence increased after his case was referred to the Court of Appeal by the Solicitor General, Alex Chalk QC MP.
Benjamin Johnson, now 36, was 14 when he began sexually abusing the victim, then aged 6. The abuse continued over a 4-year period, with the offences occurring regularly when the two would spend the night at the same house.
On 2 December 2021, Johnson was sentenced to 3 years and 3 months' imprisonment at Chester Crown Court.
Following the sentencing, the Solicitor General referred Johnson's sentence to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme.
On 10 February the Court of Appeal found his original sentence to be unduly lenient and increased it to 6 years' imprisonment.
Speaking after the hearing, the Solicitor General, Alex Chalk QC MP said:
For a period of four years Benjamin Johnson engaged in a sordid and sustained series of indecent assaults against a young child. No sentence can undo the damage he has caused, but Johnson's increased sentence better reflects the severity of his offending, and shows that those who target and exploit vulnerable children can expect robust punishment.
