Charity criticises sex case judge

The Solicitor General's office said the case merits referral

A children's charity has expressed concern after a second child sex case involving a judge in Oxford was referred to the Court of Appeal.

The case involves a supervision order imposed by Judge Julian Hall on a youth of 17 who abused two children.

Last year the judge jailed for two years a man who raped a 10-year-old girl. The Court of Appeal later doubled the "unduly lenient" sentence.

Kidscape described the judge's sentencing policy as "disturbing."

'Real victims'

Claude Knights, director of Kidscape, said: "We are quite worried about Judge Julian Hall.

If we get another case like this I think there would need to be some sort of review of the judge's knowledge of this area Claude Knights Kidscape

"We now have a second child sex offence case involving a judge who has made some very disturbing decisions."

The fact the second case had been referred was encouraging, said Mrs Knights, but she said she was concerned about the judge's approach.

She said: "If we get another case like this I think there would need to be some sort of review of the judge's knowledge of this area.

"These are real victims and real situations."

Case referred

The Solicitor General has confirmed that the case, heard in January at Oxford Crown Court, would be referred to the Court of Appeal.

A spokeswoman for Vera Baird, Solicitor General for England and Wales, said: "This case was referred to us and we have decided that it merits being referred on to the Court of Appeal.

"We are currently waiting for a hearing date."

In the first case, 24-year-old window cleaner Keith Fenn was jailed for two years for raping the girl of 10.

But with a reduction for time on remand Fenn would have served just eight weeks before being freed.

Judge Hall was criticised for remarks that the girl had been dressed provocatively and appeared to be 16.

No jail

The second case involves the 17-year-old who was given a three-year supervision order for abusing two young children.

Judge Hall decided he was not sufficiently dangerous to warrant a jail term.

The youth was banned from contacting children by text, telephone or the internet for 10 years and ordered to sign the sex offenders' register.

He was also banned from living at any property where children stayed overnight and from associating with any child under the age of 16 who was not accompanied by a parent or guardian.

A spokesman for the Judicial Communications Office said: "From time to time, sentencing decisions are referred to the Court of Appeal for them to consider. If they are wrong they are corrected.

"This process shows the strength of the system which provides a proper mechanism for review both of unduly lenient sentences and those which defendants argue are excessive."