Outrage over sentence

A CONVICTED paedophile who kidnapped and sexually assaulted a three-year-old girl was yesterday jailed for a minimum of five years, sparking outrage from the child’s family and immediate calls for the “unduly lenient” sentence to be referred to Britain’s Court of Appeal.

Craig Sweeney, 24, of Caerleon Road, Newport in South Wales, snatched the girl from her home in the Llanrumney area of Cardiff on the evening of January 2 of this year as her mother spoke on the phone.

He took her back to his accommodation in Newport before sexually abusing her. In the early hours of the following morning he was caught after overturning his car between Hungerford and Marlborough with the child inside.

The Recorder of Cardiff, Judge John Griffith Williams QC, jailed Sweeney for life yesterday and told him he would not be considered for parole for at least five years and 108 days.

The girl’s family, some of whom left the court in tears as details of the sexual assaults were read out, immediately criticised the sentence.

Home Secretary John Reid also expressed concerns about the sentence and said he would be contacting the Attorney General Lord Peter Goldsmith with a view to it being referred to the Court of Appeal.

Lord Goldsmith later said he will consider whether to refer the case to the Court of Appeal.

The victim’s family cautiously welcomed news of intervention.