UK Ministers Strengthen Sentences for Sexual Crimes

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Ministers in England and Wales have pledged to ensure victims of sexual violence receive the justice they deserve, as official figures reveal an increase in the number of sentences for such crimes being referred back to judges as unduly lenient.

Internal government data reviewed by the Guardian shows that more sentences for rape and serious sexual assault are being increased by the Court of Appeal following referrals from the public and the Attorney General’s office.

Lucy Rigby, solicitor general for England and Wales, stated that ministers are using “every possible means” to hold perpetrators accountable. Rigby oversees the unduly lenient sentence scheme, which allows members of the public to request a review of Crown Court sentences they believe are too short. She refers cases deemed unduly lenient to the Court of Appeal for reconsideration.

According to the figures, 62% of sentences increased by the Court of Appeal in the first half of this year were for rape and serious sexual offences. This represents a sharp rise from 30% in the second half of 2024 and 25–30% in the corresponding periods of 2023.

The proportion of cases flagged as unduly lenient by the public and the Attorney General’s office has also grown. In the first six months of 2025, 34% of sentences flagged by the public and 55% of those referred by the attorney general’s office involved rape or serious sexual offences. Previously, these figures ranged between 21% and 29%.

Rigby emphasised that the increase in sentence reviews is not limited to rape and sexual assault. “We’ve also seen sentence increases for controlling and coercive behaviour, which carries lower penalties than rape,” she said. She added that addressing violence against women and girls is a national priority, involving technology, education, and cross-government efforts.

During an interview, Rigby also criticised Reform UK’s approach to crime, describing it as “all protest and no plan,” and noted that public confidence in the criminal justice system has been undermined under previous Conservative leadership.

In the first half of 2025, 28 offenders convicted of violent and sexual offences against women and girls had their sentences increased following referrals. Among them, Adrian Revill, who repeatedly abused a teenager, saw his three-year sentence tripled, while Gagandeep Gulati, who filmed himself raping a woman in Leicester, had his sentence increased from six to nine years. In May, three men convicted of raping a vulnerable teenager in West Yorkshire in the 1990s also had their sentences lengthened.

The government has set a target to halve violence against women and girls by 2034, reinforcing its commitment to ensuring perpetrators are adequately punished and victims are supported.