Locations
Leveson Road, Hanford, Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire, ST4
Description
A child rapist who sexually abused three girls over the course of more than a decade has had his sentence increased on appeal.
Christopher Appleby was convicted at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court of despicable crimes involving three victims.
The 56-year-old was found guilty of the offences some of which date back to the 1990s following a six day trial, and jailed for 15 years at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.
Now he will be locked up for longer after his sentence was referred by the Solicitor General, Alex Chalk QC MP.
The Court of Appeal found his original sentence to be 'unduly lenient' and increased it to 21 years imprisonment followed by five years on licence.
Speaking after the hearing, Mr Chalk said: "It is never too late for justice to be served and Applebys actions were despicable.
"I am glad the Court of Appeal saw fit to increase his sentence today and I hope it brings some comfort to the brave victims."
Appleby of Leveson Road, Hanford, had been found guilty of four charges of rape, two charges of sexual assault, two charges of indecent assault, two charges of indecency with a child and attempting to cause a person to engage in sexual activity without consent.
During the original sentencing hearing, a statement from that victim was read out.
She said: I hope he remains behind bars forever. I long to forget about this part of my life forever and live safely with my partner and children without the thought of this man being on the loose anymore.
In a statement from another of Applebys victims, she said the thought of being in the same room as him makes her skin crawl.
She said: All I can really say is this has finally brought some closure.
You took away the last of my childhood and severed a friendship.
It upsets me that it didnt end with me, of course you thought you could do it again.