A man who sexually abused a teenager more than 40 years ago has today had his sentence increased after the Solicitor General, Robert Buckland QC MP, referred it to the Court of Appeal for being unduly lenient.
While in his late teens, Graham Stridgeon sexually abused a fellow resident at Bryn Alyn children's home on several occasions in the 1970s. The victim was under 15 at the time. Stridgeon, now 64, was arrested and charged following 'Operation Pallial', an independent National Crime Agency investigation into recent allegations of past abuse in the North Wales care system.
Stridgeon was originally sentenced in October 2018 to 3 and a half years in prison at Mold Crown Court. The Court of Appeal has today increased his sentence to 5 years and 10 months in prison with an extended licence period of 3 years.
Speaking after the hearing, the Solicitor General said:
"I would like to thank the victim for bringing Stridgeon's offences to light, and I hope that they now feel that their courage has been rewarded and that justice has been done. I would also like to thank the National Crime Agency for their hard work on Operation Pallial."
