An Ayrshire rapist found guilty of sexually abusing two young children has had his prison sentence increased following a successful appeal.
Ryan Brown, 36, will now serve at least 11 years behind bars after his original sentence was quashed by the Appeal Court following a rare appeal from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS).
Brown, from Drongan, was jailed for seven years at the High Court in Glasgow in July 2024 last year after being convicted of sexually abusing a young boy and raping a 10-year-old girl the previous month.
Due to the serious nature of Brown’s crimes, an appeal was launched on the basis that sentence was “unduly lenient” meaning that it fell outside the range of sentences which the judge could reasonably have considered appropriate having taken account of all relevant factors.
The Appeal Court upheld the Crown appeal and the original seven-year sentence has been quashed and replaced with a 14-year extended sentence, with the custodial part set at 11 years.
Kenny Donnelly, Deputy Crown Agent for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said: “COPFS is committed to improving the criminal justice journey for victims, from the stage of reporting all the way through to sentencing.
“Prosecutors have a responsibility in legislation to consider appeals based upon undue leniency in sentencing.
“Such appeals are rare but important to ensure the public interest is properly served.
“They allow the court to review sentences that the Crown believe fall outside the range of punishment reasonably considered appropriate.
“COPFS believes that it is important that the harm caused by sexual offending, and the culpability of the convicted person, must be consistently reflected in sentencing decisions.”
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