LONDON, Nov. 21 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:
Brandon Smith(25)from Denton in GreaterManchester, hadhis sentence increasedbyfourand a halfyearsafterhis casewas referred to the Court ofAppeal underthe Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.
The court heard thatSmithdid not knowhisvictim,but he had been watching her for six months andidentifiedher route to work.
In the morning of5 July 2024, Smith grabbed thevictimon her morningcommuteand threatened tostabher if she made a noise.He then dragged herbehindsome bushes and raped her.
After theassault,Smith threatened to killthe victim'smotherif she said anything about his attack.
Smith denied his guilt throughout the trial, initially claiming he had never met his victim. Then, when forensic evidence made it clear that he had been in contact with the woman, hesubsequentlyclaimed she had consented.
Following a trial at Bolton Crown Court, he was found guilty on all five counts on 8 January 2025.
The Solicitor GeneralRt Hon Ellie ReevesMP said:
Brandon Smith's attack and rape ofa women in broad daylight after he had been watching her for monthswas utterly appalling.
This Government is committed to halving violence against women and girls and as Solicitor General, I am focussed onprotecting women and girls. I welcomethe court's decisionto increaseSmith'ssentenceand keeping a dangerous sexual predator off our streets.
On 30 April 2025, Brandon Smith wassentencedto 12 years and six months' imprisonment with a license extension of threeyears,forrape, assault bypenetration and sexual assault at Bolton Crown Court.A consequentialrestrainingorderwasalsoimposed.
On 21 November 2025, Smith's sentence was increased to17yearswith a license extension of three years,after it was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
