Court of Appeal to consider child rapist's 12 year jail sentence

Government lawyers in the Attorney General’s Office have asked the appeal justices to consider whether the sentence given to Anthony Pitts was unduly lenient.

If they agree, the panel of three Court of Appeal judges could increase Pitts’ sentence. The case is expected to be heard this morning.

In June, Pitts, 39, was jailed for 12 years after he was convicted for abusing two children more than a decade and a half ago.

Judge Michael Gledhill QC, who presided over the trial and sent the former RAF Brize Norton worker to prison, said during that the sex abuser was a ‘bully’ who had dominated his young victims.

He noted that Pitts had intellectual difficulties, but questioned the extent to which it mitigated his crimes.

“You have problems. You have learning disabilities, you went to a special needs school, your IQ is in the lowest five per cent range of the population,” he said.

“But I point out the obvious: that others in that low range of IQ do not go around sexually abusing [children] over a prolonged period of time, which is exactly what you did.

“You have dyslexia, you are borderline intellectual functioning and you are on the autism spectrum, though fortunately your autism is mild. You have the emotional capacity of a 14-year-old.

“I again point out the obvious; that 14-year-olds do not go around sexually abusing [victims].”

Anthony Pitts Picture: THAMES VALLEY POLICE

In June, Oxford Crown Court heard Pitts still did not admit his guilt. Pitts, of Milestone Road, Carterton, was found guilty of 13 counts including rape, gross indecency and sexual assault. He was acquitted of five other counts.

Speaking at Pitts’ sentencing, one of his two victims said she had suffered years of anxiety and depression following his abuse.

The woman, who reported the sexual abuse with after speaking to a therapist, complained of seeing her abuser ‘living his life acting as if he’s done nothing wrong’.

Under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme, anyone is able to ask the Attorney General’s Office to consider a sentence given to an offender at the crown court.

If they agree, the government lawyers can refer the case to the Court of Appeal – with the sentence considered by a panel of three appeal justices.

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