Rapists’ prison time extended as solicitor general slams lenient rulings

Dozens of rapists and sex offenders had jail terms extended under a leniency review scheme

Rapists and sex offenders across England and Wales have seen their sentences increased after the Solicitor General, Lucy Rigby KC MP, intervened under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme.

The latest figures, released by the Attorney General’s Office, reveal that between April and June 2025, 34 sentences were extended following a referral by Rigby. Of these, 13 cases involved rape convictions.

The ULS scheme allows any member of the public to request a review if they believe a sentence handed down by the courts is too light. Law Officers then decide whether to refer the case to the Court of Appeal, which can increase the punishment.

Among the most striking cases was that of Adrian Revill, whose original sentence of three years for repeatedly sexually abusing an underage teenager was quashed and replaced with a nine-and-a-half-year term. Judges described the initial punishment as failing to reflect the gravity of the crimes.

Solicitor General Rigby defended the tougher stance, saying:
“Rape is a horrific offence, which can often leave lifelong trauma for victims. As this Government’s Solicitor General, I will continue to support victims to ensure perpetrators are properly punished for their crimes.”

Other offenders who saw their prison terms increased included:

• Haider Ali, from Middlesbrough, who attacked and raped two women on the same night. His extended sentence was raised from 12 years (10 years’ imprisonment plus two years on licence) to 17 years (15 years in custody and two on licence).
  
• Gagandeep Gulati, from Hounslow, West London, who raped a woman, filmed the attack, and shared the footage. His six-year sentence was increased to nine years.
  
• Anthony Williams, from Gloucester, who posed online as a professional photographer, lured women to his flat, and sexually assaulted them after pressuring them to undress. His prison term jumped from eight years to 12.
  
• Ibrar Hussain, 47, and brothers Imtiaz and Fayaz Ahmed, aged 62 and 45, from Keighley, who sexually abused a vulnerable girl during the 1990s. Their jail terms were all extended after review.
  

The new data underscores the government’s increasing reliance on the ULS scheme to correct what it views as failures in sentencing. The process has long been seen as a safeguard to ensure punishments reflect the severity of crimes, particularly those involving sexual violence.

Campaigners have previously criticised courts for handing down sentences that, in their view, minimise the suffering of victims or undervalue the seriousness of repeat offending. Rigby’s intervention reflects a push from the government to reinforce public confidence in the justice system by ensuring predators serve longer behind bars.

For victims, the appeals provide a sense that justice has been more fully served. Legal experts note, however, that appeals can be emotionally draining, requiring victims and their families to relive traumatic experiences as cases are reconsidered.

Still, the Solicitor General’s office has made clear that ensuring accountability for offenders remains a top priority. The sharp increase in referrals and longer sentences suggests the government is prepared to challenge rulings whenever it believes they fall short.

The latest cases send a stark warning to offenders: those who commit sexual violence will not only face justice in court but may also find their sentences dramatically extended if deemed too lenient.

As the quarterly figures show, the ULS scheme continues to play a central role in shaping how the justice system responds to some of the most harrowing crimes in society.