A rapist will have his ‘unduly lenient’ sentence reviewed by the Court of Appeal following an intervention by South Ribble MP Katherine Fletcher.
Matthew Wilkinson, 29, formerly of Grasmere Grove, Whittle-le-Woods near Chorley, who goes by the name Grant, admitted rape and sexual assault of a woman at her Leyland home on New Year’s Day following a party.
He was sentenced to four years and 10 months at Preston Crown Court in May but the victim and her family criticised the length of the jail term saying Wilkinson will be out in two years.
They wrote to Katherine, who asked the Attorney General’s office to refer Wilkinson’s sentence to the Unduly Lenient Scheme.
In a reply from the Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson, on behalf of the Attorney General, he said: “A referral under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme to the Court of Appeal can only be made if a sentence is not just lenient but unduly so.
“After detailed examination of the case, I have decided to refer this case to the Court of Appeal, as it appears to me that this test is met.
“The Court will decide in due course whether the sentence imposed was unduly lenient and if so whether to substitute a different sentence.”
He added: “I know how seriously you take these issues, and matters of justice more broadly… I am extremely grateful to you for bringing this matter to my attention.”
“I am really pleased the Attorney General’’s office has made this decision after I asked them to look at Wilkinson's sentence.
“I shared the victim and her family’s anger that this jail term was far too little for such a very serious offence against a woman in her home.
“I have been in touch with the victim and her family and I praise them for their courage and tenacity in not allowing this matter to rest.”
