Three men with a history of violence who robbed a man in a Bristol takeaway have had their prison sentences increased after the Solicitor General intervened. Jack Walker, Abdifatah Sharif, and Billy Madden saw their sentences go up after the Solicitor General referred their cases to the Court of Appeal, arguing that their original sentences were unduly lenient.
The court heard that on 18 February 2023, the three men entered a takeaway on Stockton Croft with their faces hidden. They approached a man and demanded the keys to his car before launching a violent attack on him. The victim was repeatedly punched in the face and head, and Jack Walker even threatened him with a large machete. After the assault, the trio left the takeaway with the victim’s bag, which contained £3,000, €400, his passport, a silver ring, and a pair of sunglasses.
Thirty minutes later, Walker targeted a second victim who was riding an electric scooter. He punched the victim in the face, threatened to stab him, and then stole the victim’s bag and scooter, valued at £600.
The Solicitor General, Michael Tomlinson KC MP, expressed his concerns about the level of violence and brutality displayed by the men in this case. He stated that the increased sentences were justified and hoped that it would send a clear message that violent offenders would be pursued through the court system to protect the public from harm.
Walker, Sharif, and Madden were initially sentenced on 18 August 2023 at Bristol Crown Court after pleading guilty to their crimes. Walker received a 20-month prison sentence for two counts of robbery and one count of possessing a bladed article. Sharif was sentenced to 26 months in prison for one robbery offence and possession of class A drugs. Madden received a 24-month prison sentence for one offence of robbery.
On Friday 10 November, the Court of Appeal reviewed the cases and decided to increase the sentences. Walker’s sentence was extended to five years imprisonment, Sharif’s to three years and four months imprisonment, and Madden’s to two years and 10 months imprisonment.
The decision to increase the sentences was made under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme, which allows the Solicitor General to refer cases to the Court of Appeal for review if they believe that the original sentence was too lenient given the severity of the offence.
