Paedophile's sentence increased

Michael Wheeler was originally jailed for three years

A paedophile, who sexually abused two 13-year-old girls he met through internet chat rooms, has had his sentence increased to seven years by the Appeal Court.

Michael Wheeler, 36, from Cambridgeshire, will spend four-and-a-half years of his sentence in jail and two-and-a-half years on licence.

The decision was given a lukewarm welcome by a mother of one of the victims, who called for a 10 year sentence.

Wheeler, an electronics engineer, of Wadloes Road, Cambridge, was originally jailed for three years at Norwich Crown Court in June.

On 10 October, three judges in London were asked on behalf of Lord Goldsmith QC, the Attorney General, to rule that his sentence was "unduly lenient".

Longer sentences

On Wednesday, Lord Justice Kay said the court considered the lightest sentence that could properly have been imposed in Wheeler's case was five-and-a-half years.

And he suggested offenders should expect harsher sentences after an expected change in the law.

The judge added: "Men contemplating involvement with much younger girls via internet chat rooms with a view to sexual activity should appreciate that the court is likely to pass a longer sentence than this in future and sentences even higher than those to which we have referred may well not be seen as manifestly excessive.

The Sexual Offences Bill will send a very strong message out about protection of children Christine Atkinson NSPCC Sex law changes imminent

"When Parliament has finished its reconsideration of the law relating to sexual offending, the courts may be able to take an even more punitive view of such offences."

A mother of one of Wheeler's victims welcomed the increase in the sentence but said she "expected a lot more and wanted a lot more".

"Three years is disgusting. Four and a half is a little bit better but personally I would have liked nearer 10," she said.

License period extended

Wheeler was not present in court to hear the ruling by Lord Justice Kay, sitting with Mr Justice Poole and Mr Justice Treacy.

Lord Justice Kay said the period on licence was being extended to give a longer measure of protection to girls upon his Wheeler's release.

When he was first sentenced, Judge Philip Curl told Wheeler that he would be freed on licence after serving half his sentence, providing he behaved well, though he would remain on the sex offenders' register for life.

The judges last week heard submissions from defence counsel asking the court not to interfere with the sentence.

Wheeler had admitted three counts of having unlawful sex with the first 13-year-old girl he came into contact with and three counts of indecently assaulting the youngster.

Law exploited

He also admitted two counts of unlawful sex with the second 13-year-old girl and three counts of indecently assaulting her.

Detectives believe Wheeler might have exploited the law by waiting until the girls were 13 before having sex with them, though the court heard he had contacted the first girl via a chatroom when she was 11.

Prosecutors said he had "groomed her" and made her dependent on him, then began abusing her shortly after her 13th birthday.

The maximum sentence for unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 is life, but the maximum sentence for a girl aged 13 or over is two years.

The government is expected to make changes to the law, a move welcomed by Christine Atkinson, Child Protection Policy Advisor for the NSPCC, who said: "Clearly, the Sexual Offences Bill will send a very strong message out about protection of children.

"Sex abusers online can gain the trust of children, can pretend they're children as well, and become children's friends, and that's actually very serious."