Originally posted: http://www.redtigerkarateclub.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=13&Itemid=17
Martial arts tutor Paul Monty, who was jailed for four and a half years for child sex offences, has had his sentence more than doubled by the Court of Appeal
A twisted martial arts instructor who subjected two schoolgirls to repeated sex attacks had his too soft sentence more than doubled by top judges.
Paul Monty, 54, of Elton, near Stockton, was originally jailed for four and a half years at Teesside Crown Court in December last year after he was convicted of a string of sex crimes against the teenagers.
Appeal Court judge, Lord Justice Davis, who today upped Monty’s sentence to 10 years, said he preyed on the girls during the 1980s.
Sitting with Mr Justice Jeremy Baker and Judge Simon Tonking, he said Monty’s victims had “idolised” him as a hero, but he repaid their “adoration” by repeated betrayals of trust.
The Solicitor-General, Oliver Heald QC, attacked Monty’s original sentence as far too light.
And Lord Justice Davis agreed, saying: “We don’t think the sentence of four and a half years begins to comprehend the gravity of all that happened here.
“We have no real doubt at all that this was an unduly lenient sentence.”
He added: “This was sustained and serious sexual offending which involved taking advantage of the hero worship of these two girls.”
Monty had “exploited the adoration they conferred on him”.
Although he did not use brute force to get his victims to comply, the judge said he never needed to because they were so in awe of him.
The women told jurors at Monty’s trial how he tied them to a bed before subjecting them to degrading sex acts.
The judge said Monty’s crimes had a clear element of “grooming” and that both victims were caused lasting “emotional and psychological harm”.
Probation reports disclosed that he had shown “no real remorse”.
Monty was found guilty of several counts of gross indecency, as well as a serious sexual assault, in relation to one of the girls.
The other victim suffered an attempted sexual assault and two offences of gross indecency at his hands.
Lord Justice Davis quashed all the gross indecency counts after accepting that the charges were incorreclty framed and therefore “unlawful”.
However, the more serious charges remained in place and the judge said the sentences imposed in relation to them were far too light.
“The total sentence is now 10 years,” Lord Justice Davis concluded.
Speaking after the hearing, the Solicitor General said: “Paul Monty abused his position of trust and acted in a way that was wholly inappropriate for a teacher, committing sexual offences against young girls who were in his charge and entitled to be safe.
“I asked the court to look again at this sentence as I felt it was unduly lenient.
“Sexual crimes, especially those which breach the trust between a pupil and teacher, should be punished appropriately.
“Today the Court sent a clear message that anyone who violates the trust of children, no matter how long ago, will face the proper consequences.”
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