Michael King, a 33-year-old convicted sex offender, has had his sentence nearly doubled following an application to the Court of Appeal by West Yorkshire Police. Originally sentenced to 10 years in jail at Leeds Crown Court in October, King faced multiple convictions, including three counts of raping a girl under 13. The Court of Appeal’s decision on Friday increased his sentence to 20 years under the Unduly Lenient Sentences scheme.
Detective Inspector Mark Tester underlined the traumatic impact of King’s offences on the victim. “King’s offending has had a very traumatic impact on the victim. We hope the increased sentence he has now received will give her and her family a greater sense of justice as they continue to move on with their lives,” said DI Tester.
The appeal, submitted by West Yorkshire Police, aimed to address the family’s disappointment with the original sentence. King’s initial sentence comprised 10 years for the rape offences, with a concurrent four-year term for four counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 and one count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. Additionally, he was given a one-year extended licence period.
The Court of Appeal quashed the original sentence and replaced it with a new one, extending King’s imprisonment to 20 years, which still includes a one-year extended licence period. King had already been placed on the sex offenders register and was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life.
