Paedophile Neil Wilson Gets Two Year Jail Term

A paedophile who walked free from court after his 13-year-old victim was branded "predatory" has been ordered to serve a two-year jail term.

Neil Wilson escaped with a 12-month suspended sentence despite pleading guilty to engaging in sexual activity with a child, making indecent images of a child and possession of an extreme pornographic image.

The Attorney General ordered a review of the case after an outcry following comments from prosecuting barrister Robert Colover, who said that Wilson's victim was "predatory" and "sexually experienced".

Judge Nigel Peters QC also came in for criticism after he said he had taken account of the girl looking older than 13 when he sentenced 41-year-old Wilson.

The Court of Appeal ruled that the non-custodial punishment was "unduly lenient" and imposed an immediate two-year jail sentence.

Wilson surrendered himself to police in York, where he lives, late this afternoon.

Speaking after the hearing, Attorney General Dominic Grieve said: "Neil Wilson exploited a young and vulnerable girl. He pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child, making indecent photographs of a child and possessing extreme pornography.

"I asked the Court of Appeal to examine whether the sentence was appropriate, given the seriousness of the offences, and I am pleased that they have found that this sentence was unduly lenient and have imposed an immediate sentence of imprisonment."

Wilson admitted abusing the girl at his home in Romford, Essex, where police also found images of child sex abuse on a computer.

Police were alerted to his actions after his victim told a friend.

Mr Colover, who was representing the CPS at the sentencing hearing at London's Snaresbrook Crown Court, said: "The girl is predatory in all her actions and she is sexually experienced."

Prime Minister David Cameron hit out at the barrister's choice of words and said: "We need a criminal justice system that stands up properly for victims. The victims of crime should always be at the centre of our thinking."

After a CPS review of the case, Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer said the language used to describe the teenager was "grossly inappropriate".

Mr Colover agreed to resign from the Crown Prosecution Service's rape panel of advocates, admitting his description of the girl was "inappropriate".

Complaints about Judge Nigel Peters' sentencing remarks are being "considered" by the Judicial Conduct and Investigations Office.