Extra five years for gang member who armed schoolboy killer

A gang member who armed the killer of schoolboy Rhys Jones had his “unduly lenient” seven-year sentence increased to 12 years by the Court of Appeal today.

James Yates, now 21, was originally given a total of seven years' detention at Liverpool Crown Court in January for possession of a prohibited firearm and assisting an offender.

The sentence was referred to Britain's Court of Appeal for review by the Attorney General, Baroness Scotland QC.

At a hearing in London today, the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, sitting with Mrs Justice Rafferty and Mr Justice Henriques agreed with submissions made on her behalf that the sentence imposed should have been longer.

Yates, of Dodman Road, Croxteth, was present in the dock of the court for the decision.

Eleven-year-old Rhys was shot dead in August 2007 in a Liverpool pub car park as he made his way home from football training.

His family were present in the courtroom today for the hearing.

The Lord Chief Justice, in announcing the increase in sentence, stressed that gun crime was a “modern pestilence” and that offenders faced severe, deterrent custodial terms.