Norfolk judge who described sexual predator as 'Jack the lad' rebuked

A part-time justice who described a convicted enactment offender arsenic "Jack the lad" during sentencing has been criticised by a Court of Appeal judge.

Recorder John Hardy utilized the operation erstwhile sentencing Aaron Hewson, 33, for 3 intersexual assaults astatine Norwich Crown Court successful April.

Lady Justice Macur, who oversaw an entreaty proceeding connected Thursday, said she "deplored" Recorder Hardy's indication.

Hewson's condemnation was accrued aft being considered unduly lenient.

Hewson, from Cromer, Norfolk, had been jailed of 3 years and 11 months successful April aft a trial.

Three entreaty judges - Lady Justice Macur, Mrs Justice Cockerill and Mr Justice Murray - accrued that word to 7 years astatine the Court of Appeal aft concluding that the archetypal condemnation was unduly lenient.

They upheld an entreaty by Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson.

Charles Burton, who represented Hewson, had argued that the condemnation was not unduly lenient and should not beryllium increased.

Appeal judges heard that Hewson had convictions for unit and, erstwhile a juvenile, had been convicted of enactment offences.

He had besides admitted possessing an "extreme" pornographic image.

Lady Justice Macur said entreaty judges had concluded that determination had been "significant flaws" successful Recorder Hardy's attack to sentencing.

She said helium had indicated erstwhile passing condemnation that grounds suggested Hewson was a "Jack the lad character".

"We deplore the judge's statement arsenic indicating that the suspect was 'Jack the lad'," she said.

"This offending was predatory."

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