Paedophile jail term extended
The sentence of a man who sexually abused two thirteen-year-old girls he met through internet chatrooms has been extended by 18 months.
Three judges in the Court of Appeal ruled that the three-year custodial sentence handed out to Michael Wheeler, 36, was “unduly lenient”.
Lord Justice Kay, Mr Justice Poole and Mr Justice Treacy also increased the period he must remain under licence.
Electronics engineer Wheeler, from Cambridge, was originally sentenced at Norwich Crown Court.
He was not present in court on Wednesday to hear the ruling by Lord Justice Kay.
The move to increase the sentence was made on behalf of the Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith QC, at a hearing before the judges last week.
Detectives believe that Wheeler purposefully exploited the current law on sentencing which sets a maximum sentence for unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 of life, but a maximum sentence for a girl aged 13 or over of two years.
Wheeler appeared to have waited until the girls were 13 before having sex with them.
If proposed new legislation comes into force, the maximum sentence could be upped to 14 years.
Wheeler admitted three counts of having unlawful sex with the first 13-year-old girl and three counts of indecent assault.
He also admitted two counts of unlawful sex with the second 13-year-old girl and three counts of indecently assaulting her.
