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Stuart Hall jail term doubled by Court of Appeal Stuart Hall jail term doubled by Court of Appeal
(35 minutes later)
Former BBC broadcaster Stuart Hall's 15-month sentence for a series of indecent assaults has been doubled by the Court of Appeal.Former BBC broadcaster Stuart Hall's 15-month sentence for a series of indecent assaults has been doubled by the Court of Appeal.
Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge said his original term had been "unduly lenient" and the impact on Hall's victims had been lifelong.Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge said his original term had been "unduly lenient" and the impact on Hall's victims had been lifelong.
Hall, 83, of Wilmslow, admitted 14 counts against girls aged from nine to 17 between 1967 and 1985 in June.Hall, 83, of Wilmslow, admitted 14 counts against girls aged from nine to 17 between 1967 and 1985 in June.
His term was increased to 30 months after the attorney general's appeal.His term was increased to 30 months after the attorney general's appeal.
Lord Judge said that the assaults were "real", but added that some of Hall's victims had been disappointed by Dominic Grieve's decision to appeal the length of the sentence. Lord Judge said some of Hall's victims had been disappointed by Dominic Grieve's decision to appeal against the length of the sentence.
He added that Hall had "got away with it" for decades and had "lived a lie for more than half of his life".He added that Hall had "got away with it" for decades and had "lived a lie for more than half of his life".
Hall, listening to proceedings via video link from HMP Preston, kept his head bowed and showed no reaction as the decision was announced. Lord Judge, Lady Justice Rafferty and Mrs Justice Macur ruled that one of the 15-month sentences Hall received for the assaults should run consecutively to the others, thereby doubling his prison term.
'Punished, disgraced and ruined''Punished, disgraced and ruined'
Earlier, Mr Grieve had told Lord Judge, Lady Justice Rafferty and Mrs Justice Macur that the original sentence "when coupled with the aggravating features... failed adequately to reflect the gravity of the totality of the offences, and the public concern about offences of this nature". Hall, listening to proceedings via video link from HMP Preston, kept his head bowed and showed no reaction as the decision was announced.
Earlier, Mr Grieve had told the court that the original sentence "when coupled with the aggravating features... failed adequately to reflect the gravity of the totality of the offences, and the public concern about offences of this nature".
"Even if the individual sentences for each count are appropriate given the statutory maximum available, some should have been made to run consecutively so that the total sentence passed reflected the culpability of the offender, the harm caused and [would] deter others," he said."Even if the individual sentences for each count are appropriate given the statutory maximum available, some should have been made to run consecutively so that the total sentence passed reflected the culpability of the offender, the harm caused and [would] deter others," he said.
Crispin Aylett QC, for Hall, had said the sentence was "entirely appropriate" given the former broadcaster's age and the facts that he pleaded guilty early and that his last offence occurred 27 years ago.Crispin Aylett QC, for Hall, had said the sentence was "entirely appropriate" given the former broadcaster's age and the facts that he pleaded guilty early and that his last offence occurred 27 years ago.
He had told the court: "If the object was to see this man punished, disgraced and financially ruined then all of that has been more than achieved."He had told the court: "If the object was to see this man punished, disgraced and financially ruined then all of that has been more than achieved."
'Celebrity status'
Speaking after the ruling, Mr Grieve said he had asked the court to "consider the multiple offending by Stuart Hall over a prolonged period of time which involved numerous victims".Speaking after the ruling, Mr Grieve said he had asked the court to "consider the multiple offending by Stuart Hall over a prolonged period of time which involved numerous victims".
He said he had wanted the judges to take into account "breaches of trust" by Hall, as "some of these offences [were] in places where the victims were entitled to feel safe".He said he had wanted the judges to take into account "breaches of trust" by Hall, as "some of these offences [were] in places where the victims were entitled to feel safe".
"He used his celebrity status to invite them to attend the BBC and he also displayed an element of planning and premeditation," he said."He used his celebrity status to invite them to attend the BBC and he also displayed an element of planning and premeditation," he said.
Mr Grieve added that he was "pleased" with the increase in Hall's sentence, which "highlighted the fact that historical sexual offences are always taken very seriously and [showed] the law still applies, whoever the offender may be". Mr Grieve added that he was pleased with the increase in Hall's sentence, which "highlighted the fact that historical sexual offences are always taken very seriously and [showed] the law still applies, whoever the offender may be".