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Stuart Hall: judges review whether sentence for sex attacks was too lenient Stuart Hall's sentence for sex attacks was too lenient, court rules
(about 1 hour later)
Three of Britain's most senior judges are considering whether the 15-month sentence handed to Stuart Hall for a string of sex offences was unduly lenient. Stuart Hall has had his 15-month prison sentence for sex offences doubled by court of appeal judges.
The disgraced broadcaster appeared via video link from HMP Preston on Friday morning as the attorney general asked for his jail term to be increased. The lord chief justice, Lord Judge, Lady Justice Rafferty and Mrs Justice Macur, sitting in London, ruled that the original 15 months was inadequate and should be upped to 30 months.
Hall, 83, received a 15-month sentence in June after admitting 14 offences against girls aged nine to 17 between 1967 and 1985. Hall, 83, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, who admitted 14 counts of indecent assault against girls as young as nine between 1967 and 1987, kept his head bowed as he listened to proceedings via video link from HMP Preston and showed no reaction as the decision was announced.
The attorney general, Dominic Grieve QC, argued that the sentence "failed adequately to reflect the gravity of the totality of the offences and the public concern about offences of this nature". The case was referred to the court by the attorney general, Dominic Grieve, who argued that Hall's sentence was "unduly lenient" as it failed to adequately reflect the gravity of his offending and the "public concern" about such crimes.
He told the judges that the individual sentences for each count should have been made to run consecutively, "so that the total sentence passed reflected the culpability of the offender, the harm caused and the culpability of others". Grieve told the judges that the individual sentences for each count should have been made to run consecutively, "so that the total sentence passed reflected the culpability of the offender, the harm caused and the culpability of others".
"It appears to me the sentence was unduly lenient and the overall criminality was not reflected," he told the lord chief justice, Lord Judge, and two other appeal court judges. "It appears to me the sentence was unduly lenient and the overall criminality was not reflected," he told the appeal court judges.
Grieve argued that Hall's "prolonged and repeated" offending, the number of victims and his gross breach of trust were serious aggravating factors that should be considered when deciding whether his sentence was unduly lenient.Grieve argued that Hall's "prolonged and repeated" offending, the number of victims and his gross breach of trust were serious aggravating factors that should be considered when deciding whether his sentence was unduly lenient.
The disgraced broadcaster appeared at the court of appeal hearing via video link from a small room in HMP Preston. Wearing a prison-issued lanyard over a maroon T-shirt, he listened silently to the court hearing in London.The disgraced broadcaster appeared at the court of appeal hearing via video link from a small room in HMP Preston. Wearing a prison-issued lanyard over a maroon T-shirt, he listened silently to the court hearing in London.
Victims' charities argued that the broadcaster had got off lightly and 165 people complained to the attorney general's office that the sentence had been too lenient.Victims' charities argued that the broadcaster had got off lightly and 165 people complained to the attorney general's office that the sentence had been too lenient.
Hall was described as an "opportunistic predator" by the Crown Prosecution Service after he admitted a string of historic sex attacks.Hall was described as an "opportunistic predator" by the Crown Prosecution Service after he admitted a string of historic sex attacks.
Judge Anthony Russell QC, at Preston crown court, said he sentenced Hall based on the maximum sentence available at the time the crimes were committed, which was two to five years.Judge Anthony Russell QC, at Preston crown court, said he sentenced Hall based on the maximum sentence available at the time the crimes were committed, which was two to five years.
The maximum sentence has since been increased to 10 years.The maximum sentence has since been increased to 10 years.
Preston crown court heard that Hall confronted one girl in the staff quarters of a hotel within minutes of her being chosen to appear as a cheerleader on his BBC show, It's a Knockout.Preston crown court heard that Hall confronted one girl in the staff quarters of a hotel within minutes of her being chosen to appear as a cheerleader on his BBC show, It's a Knockout.
In the 80s, Hall molested a nine-year-old girl by putting his hand up her clothing, the court was told.In the 80s, Hall molested a nine-year-old girl by putting his hand up her clothing, the court was told.
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