Convicted abuser’s original suspended sentence is overturned and replaced with immediate jail time
A convicted sexual predator who groomed and abused a young teenager has had his previously suspended sentence quashed and replaced with an immediate prison term following intervention by the Solicitor General.
Peter Pottle, from Taverham in Norfolk, was sentenced on 22 January 2026 to four years and six months in prison after the Court of Appeal determined that his original sentence, handed down in September 2025, was unduly lenient.
The case was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme by The Rt Hon Ellie Reeves MP, the Solicitor General. The referral mechanism allows the Attorney General’s Office to ask the appellate court to review sentences believed to be insufficient given the seriousness of the offending.
The court heard that Pottle met his victim in 2016, shortly before she turned 13. Their initial contact began through online messaging, and he subsequently travelled to meet her near her home.
According to prosecution accounts, Pottle encouraged the victim to exchange indecent images and shared similar images of himself. Over time, the level of physical contact progressed from kissing to more serious sexual abuse.
In 2020, the offending continued under a false name. Pottle sent sexual messages to the victim, soliciting intimate images and later threatened her to delete accounts and messages, attempting to conceal the communications.
At the original sentencing hearing on 30 September 2025 at Norwich Crown Court, Pottle received a two-year custodial sentence suspended for two years. The judge also imposed a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement, a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, a 10-year restraining order, and a £187 victim surcharge.
The suspended prison term drew criticism from the Solicitor General, who assessed it as unduly lenient given the nature of the offences and the vulnerability of the victim. Under the UK’s Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme, law officers may request review by the appellate court where a sentence appears not to reflect the gravity of the crime.
Ellie Reeves, Solicitor General and Member of Parliament, said Pottle’s conduct was “despicable” and that he had “calculatedly groomed a young teenager, starting with conversations online before moving onto more serious sexual abuse”. She welcomed the Court of Appeal’s decision and reaffirmed her commitment to using available legal tools to ensure dangerous offenders receive appropriate punishment.
The victim, in a personal statement submitted to the court, described lasting impacts from the abuse, noting ongoing difficulties with trust and strains in relationships with friends and family. This statement was considered by judges during review of the appeal.
The Court of Appeal’s ruling on 22 January 2026 replaced the suspended sentence with an immediate custodial term of four years and six months. The decision reflects the court’s view that the original sentence did not adequately mirror the seriousness of Pottle’s conduct and the harm caused to the victim.
The Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme is designed to provide a mechanism for scrutiny where judicial decisions on sentencing fall below expected standards, particularly in cases involving serious violent or sexual offences. Law officers, including the Solicitor General, assess referrals and decide whether to seek review by the Court of Appeal.
Pottle’s case highlights ongoing efforts by the Attorney General’s Office and the Solicitor General to hold offenders accountable and ensure sentences reflect public expectations and legal guidelines for serious criminal behaviour.