An “appalling” child molester who abused a nine-year-old girl will not have his jail term upped despite pleas from the Solicitor General that it was far too soft.
Stephen Thomas Maslen, 63, of Thirlmere Place, Newport, was caged for two years and three months at Cardiff Crown Court on December 17 last year.
Maslen was described as “something of a character” who kept birds and was a “hoarder”, Lady Justice Macur told London’s Appeal Court on Thursday.
He touched the nine-year-old victim sexually over and under her clothing and admitted two counts of sexual assault of a person aged under 13.
His child victim had become “anxious and withdrawn” after he abused her, said the judge.
The court heard Maslen had previous convictions for sexual offences against young children.
Read more: Ex-Wales footballer Ched Evans to have rape conviction heard in Court of Appeal in three weeks time
Jake Hallam, on behalf of the Solicitor General Robert Buckland QC, argued Maslen’s jail term should have been much tougher.
He had been given a much too “generous” discount for admitting his crimes at a late stage, said the barrister.
'Generous' sentencing discount
Hilary Roberts, for Maslen, insisted the sentence was “not unduly lenient” and asked the Appeal Court judges “not to interfere” with it.
He said Maslen had mental health problems, including a “paranoid personality disorder”, and was “always going to find life in prison difficult”.
When he is freed he “will have very little support from family and friends” and he has already lost his home, the court heard.
Lady Justice Macur, who was sitting with Mr Justice Andrew Smith and Judge Christopher Kinch QC, described Maslen’s crimes as “appalling”.
She added: “In this case we have no doubt the judge was generous in the discount he afforded this offender. It was a late guilty plea.
“However the judge was entitled to have particular regard in the circumstances of this case and to the fact that, however late in the day, the victim was saved the ordeal of a trial.
“In these circumstances we cannot categorise the discount he allowed to be perverse.
“We arrive at the conclusion that this overall sentence, albeit undoubtedly lenient, could not be definitively said to be unduly lenient.”
Mr Buckland’s bid to increase Maslen’s punishment was dismissed.
see-http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/top-judges-accept-appalling-child-10986891
No comments:
Post a Comment