Increasing 'unduly lenient' sentences is a 'challenging art', attorney general Suella Braverman admits

Suella Braverman – who next week marks her first anniversary since being appointed the government's chief law officer – said increasing sentences was a ‘complex’ and ‘delicate balancing act’.

The Fareham MP’s comments came just weeks after her failed attempt to persuade judges to increase the prison sentences handed to the killers of PC Andrew Harper – who was dragged to his death in July while attempting to stop two thieves.

In an unusual step, the former Brexit minister and trained barrister made personal representations to the Court of Appeal, arguing the hero officer’s killers had been given lenient prison terms.

The top Tory told judges the manslaughter of the Thames Valley Police officer had caused ‘widespread public concerns’ and insisted the sentences should have been hiked up.

But appeal judges dismissed her plea, leaving the jail terms of Henry Long, 19, at 16 years and Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole – both 18 – at 13 years.

Speaking virtually to a group of law students at the University of Chichester today, Mrs Braverman said: ‘Sentencing is an art, rather than a science.

‘The vast majority of judges get their sentencing decisions correct. There are approximately 90,000 sentencing decisions a year and we are looking at the one per cent – if that – of sentences where there may well be an error.

‘There’s not necessarily one right answer as to what a sentence should be, it often involves a delicate balancing act of aggravating features.’

The MP’s comments came as the Attorney General’s Office announced it had increased the sentence of a violent burglar with links to Portsmouth.

Darren Rose, 29, was jailed for seven years in October after being found guilty of aggravated burglary and wounding with intent.

The 29-year-old yob attacked a man and women with two wine bottles during a violent burglary in Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, in 2019.

He battered them both over the head, leaving the victims with serious injuries and needing hospital treatment.

Rose, of no fixed address, was convicted and sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court last year.

Today, solicitor general Michael Ellis QC led a successful bid that increased the yob’s prison term to nine years.

After the hearing at the Court of Appeal, Mr Ellis said: ‘Rose broke into a house and assaulted two innocent people. The Court of Appeal’s decision to extend his sentence was the right one, and I hope this will lead to comfort for his victims.’

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Detective Constable Mark Thomas, of Hampshire police, added: ‘This was a violent incident for which Rose has rightly been punished.

‘I hope the victims in this case can move forward, and the community feel reassured that police and criminal justice partners do not tolerate this level of violence.’

Law students from across the south coast tuned in to hear Mrs Braverman's 50-minute talk at the University of Chichester.

The MP told of her life growing up, how she pursued a career in the law and imparted words of wisdom to students.

Criminal defence expert Dr Amy Elkington, who heads up Chichester’s newly-formed law course, said the visit was ‘inspirational’.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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