By James Simons-
A gang of carjackers have had their sentences increased after the Solicitor General, Robert Buckland QC MP, referred their case to the Court of Appeal.
Sarweeth Rehman, Hussun Ashraf and Adal Azam, all 22, carried out a string of thefts in which vehicles were towed away using a pick-up truck.
Their offending escalated when they attempted to steal two cars by smashing a car window with a hammer while the driver was still inside. They also threatened another driver with a metal bar.
Rehman and Ashraf were further convicted of offences which took place on 24 August 2017. On that day, Rehman threatened a man and smashed up his car. Later that same day Rehman and Ashraf dragged a woman from her car before stealing it. Further incidents occurred over the following months.
Rehman, Ashraf and Azam were originally sentenced in October at Birmingham Crown Court. Rehman was sentenced to 5 years and 9 months in prison, Ashraf to 6 years 4 months in prison, and Azam to 3 years and 10 months in prison.
The Court of Appeal has increased Rehman’s sentence to 10 years in prison plus activation of 2 suspended sentences amounting to 34 weeks imprisonment to be served consecutively. Ashraf’s sentence was increased to eleven and a half years in prison, plus activation of one suspended sentence of 16 weeks imprisonment to be served consecutively. Azam’s sentence was increased to 6 years in prison.
The increase in sentence again questions the judgement of British judges in meting out adequate sentences to criminals. The Solicitor General only intervenes in certain cases where a complaint is made. There are many more cases where court rulings are considered inadequate without any formal complaints made for a review of the sentence. British judges have access to sentencing guidelines, so one has to wonder why they sometimes give rulings that are later considered insufficient. How many more cases like these exist?
The office of the Attorney General told The Eye Of Media.Com that the Attorney General does not question the judiciary on the sentence given out to criminals, all they do is make recommendations for increased sentences where a ruling is believed not to fairly reflect the justice system.
Speaking after the hearing, the Solicitor General said:
These men carried out a series of violent attacks, striking when the victims were alone and then making off with their cars. The Court’s decision to increase their sentences now reflects the severity of their crimes.