Law chief dismisses paedophile 'leniency' claim

The attorney general has rejected John Reid's call to seek an increased prison sentence for paedophile Craig Sweeney.

The case sparked anger when it emerged that despite receiving a life sentence after kidnapping and sexually assaulting a three-year-old girl, Sweeney could be eligible for parole after five years and 108 days.

In response, the home secretary had urged Lord Goldsmith to examine whether the sentence was "unduly lenient".

But in a move that will embarrass Reid and Number 10, which had given its backing to his intervention, the law chief said Judge John Griffith Williams had followed the appropriate sentencing guidelines.

The sentence will not now be referred to the Court of Appeal for consideration of whether it should be extended.

Under existing laws, the attorney general is the only person who can decide whether a case can be referred to a higher court for a possible increase in sentence.

The attorney general said there would be a wide-ranging review of sentencing issues, with the results to be announced before parliament's summer recess.

"I have already made clear my views that judges should have more discretion over the discount they give for an early guilty plea, and that the way discounts apply when a case is referred to the Court of Appeal needs to be re-examined," Lord Goldsmith said.

"It is also plain that there is a need to re-examine the automatic 50 per cent reduction in fixing the minimum term.

"The home secretary, the lord chancellor and I are in complete agreement that we need a criminal justice system which protects the public, particularly vulnerable children, and in which the public has confidence."

Shadow home secretary David Davis said: "The government should realise that this sentence was a consequence of their own policy.

"John Reid should be addressing that, not seeking to deflect attention by having a row with Judges.

"The judge was merely following the government's own guidelines. What we need is urgent reform of those guidelines."

And Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg was scathing about Reid's intervention in the case.

"This is what happens when ministers seek to second guess both the decisions of judges and of the attorney general himself," said Clegg.

"John Reid, by lashing out in a vain attempt to gain a media headline has now discredited himself, the judiciary, and the attorney general.

"No wonder the public is despairing of New Labour's dismal record in the vital area of law and order."