An appeal has been filed against a pervert who likes to dress up in women's clothes because his sentence is "too lenient". Matthew James Bennie, 39, from North Country near Redruth, was sentenced by Truro Crown Court on May 10 having been found guilty during a trial in March of two counts of inciting a young girl to engage in sexual activity with him.
The court was told how Bennie had become quite adventurous in his sex life with his partners and enjoyed dressing up in women's clothes. On the date of the offences, Bennie asked the girl if she would like to have oral sex with him. He also asked her to hold a sex toy.
The court was told that while no actual sexual act happened between Bennie and the girl, the incident had a profound effect on his victim and it was so severe it could only be dealt with through a custodial sentence. Bennie was sentenced to four years in prison and will remain on the sex offenders register for 10 years.
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However it can now be revealed that an appeal has been made with the Attorney General’s Office to see his sentence lengthened. Anyone can appeal against any conviction under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme if they think those convicted of a crime should be in prison for longer or receive a harsher sentence.
Outcomes of unduly lenient sentence referrals (appeals have to be made within 28 days a sentence being passed) are published every week by the Attorney General's Office. The result comes in the shape of a spreadsheet with the initials of the offenders, the court which passed the sentence along with the date of the sentencing, what the offence was and the outcome of the decision.
In the case of Bennie his sentence has been referred to the Court of Appeal with a hearing date set for July 24. Anyone can ask for someone’s Crown court sentence to be reviewed if you think it’s too low here .
