SHADOW Home Secretary Chris Philp has branded a seven-year jail term for an Iranian national who raped a 13-year-old girl in an alleyway a “disgrace”.
His comment comes after it emerged the judge said she had not suffered “severe psychological trauma”.
Chris Philp has branded a seven-year jail term for an Iranian national who raped a 13-year-old girl in an alleyway a ‘disgrace’
Sorosh Amini received the soft sentence after he was found guilty of rape and sexual assault on August 4 last year
Sorosh Amini, 21, from Whyteleafe, Surrey, received the soft sentence in June at Croydon crown court after he was found guilty of rape and sexual assault on August 4 last year.
Mr Philp’s rare intervention came after it was also revealed that Judge Antony Hyams-Parish did not impose a stricter sentence as he did not deem Amini to be a “dangerous offender”.
The judge’s sentencing remarks have been released to The Sun.
Despite the harrowing “stranger rape” of a child, he said to Amini: “I have concluded that whilst there is no doubt that she was caused psychological harm, I have concluded it falls just short of severe psychological harm.”
But Mr Philp said: “Amini violently attacked a 13-year old girl in broad daylight in Croydon town centre.
“For the judge to give a lower sentence because she ‘allegedly didn’t suffer severe trauma as a result’ is a disgrace.”
Amini was told he will serve no more than two-thirds — four years and eight months — in prison before he is released on licence.
As he has been on remand for 11 months, he has, at most, three years and nine months left.
The Home Office and Sentencing Council would not comment.
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