Attorney General's Office
James Patton was convicted at Burnley Crown Court in November last year on a single count of rape after being caught taking advantage of a woman during a drunken night out. He was originally sentenced to 3 years in jail.
However, after a referral by the Solicitor General Robert Buckland QC MP, the Court of Appeal today quashed the original sentence and raised Pattons jail term to 5 and a half years imprisonment.
Speaking after the hearing, Solicitor General Robert Buckland said:Given the circumstances of this case, I felt that the original sentence passed was unduly lenient and that a longer sentence should have been imposed.
This case has had a terrible impact on the victim and I hope this increased sentence gives them some additional comfort.