A dad who was caged for less than four years after fathering three children with his own daughter had his “unduly lenient” sentence more than doubled by appeal judges.
The 57-year-old Huddersfield man’s offending continued over many years, even after he was cautioned by police following the birth of the first child.
In May, he was jailed for only three years and 10 months after admitting a string of offences, including incest, at Leeds Crown Court.
But the case was at the Court of Appeal today when three of the country’s top judges increased the term to eight years.
“The nature and length of this offending, with its consequences for the life of the victim, called for a significant sentence of imprisonment,” said Lord Justice Treacy.
“We are satisfied that the sentences imposed were unduly lenient in failing to reflect the gravity of the overall offending.”
The Court of Appeal heard the father and daughter had not seen each other since she was a young child.
Their relationship resumed when she was 14 and went to him after she had problems at home.
However, a perverted father-daughter relationship ensued, beginning with him kissing the vulnerable teenager, but escalating to full sexual intercourse when she was still underage.
The offending continued for many years, with the dad not heeding warnings of police and social services when they discovered he had fathered his daughter’s child.
Despite signing a contract promising not to see her again, he continued to have sex with the now adult woman, fathering two more children.
“We have seen the victim impact statement,” said Lord Justice Treacy.
“She describes estrangement from her family and an inability to have normal relationships with others, who she found hard to trust.”
The case reached the Court of Appeal after a reference by the Attorney General’s Office on the basis that the sentence was “unduly lenient”.
“The total sentence failed entirely to mark a 16-year course of conduct, starting when the complainant was 14 and involving three pregnancies,” barrister, Duncan Atkinson, said.
Giving judgment, Lord Justice Treacy, sitting with Mrs Justice Lang and Judge John Bevan QC, said the aggravating features of the case meant the sentence was too soft.
The man’s daughter had been vulnerable at the time, he had started to have sex with her when she was only 14, did not use contraception and continued despite his caution.
He said the dad had chosen to exploit his vulnerable daughter for his own sexual gratification.
The sentence was increased to eight years.
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