The sentence handed to North West broadcaster Stuart Hall over sexual abuse convictions in July is set to be reviewed after complaints the verdict was seen to be ‘unduly lenient’.
Hall, 83, was given a 15-month sentence at Preston Crown Court for 14 sexual abuse offences that took place between 1967 and 1985.
The Attorney General, Dominic Grieve QC MP, has now referred the sentence to the Court of Appeal to decide whether or not it should be increased.
A spokesman for the Attorney General’s Office said: “Having carefully reviewed this case, the Attorney General has decided to refer the sentence of Stuart Hall to the Court of Appeal for review.
“The case will in due course be heard by three Court of Appeal judges who will decide whether or not the sentence is unduly lenient and whether they should increase the sentence.”
In response to the initial verdict, several MPs contacted Mr Grieve to demand the sentence be reviewed.
Peter Wanless, the chief executive of the child protection charity NSPCC, also slammed the sentence, saying the end result was ‘not a great day for justice or for the victims’.
The review has been welcomed by many sexual abuse campaigners such as Fay Maxted, CEO of The Survivors Trust.
“I think it is really welcome news that the sentence will be reviewed,” she said.
The former football commentator and It’s a Knock Out presenter was labelled an ‘opportunistic predator’ of his victims, who were as young as nine.
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