Violent rapist fails to have jail term reduced

A convicted arsonist who tied a belt around a woman’s neck and threatened to kill her during a violent rape lasting over two hours has today failed in an appeal against the severity of his seven-year sentence.

A convicted arsonist who tied a belt around a woman’s neck and threatened to kill her during a violent rape lasting more than two hours has today failed in an appeal against the severity of his seven-year sentence.

The Court of Criminal Appeal this morning determined there had been no error in principle in sentence of seven years with 18 months suspended imposed on James Kelly (aged 32) for counts of rape, anal rape and oral rape against the now 37-year-old woman.