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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Attorney general reviews child sex abuser's sentence | Attorney general reviews child sex abuser's sentence |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A sex offender spared jail after a judge considered the "impact" on his family is having his sentence reviewed by the attorney general. | A sex offender spared jail after a judge considered the "impact" on his family is having his sentence reviewed by the attorney general. |
| Gary Karn, 48, was given an 18-month suspended prison sentence at Norwich Crown Court for sexually assaulting two girls, aged seven and eight. | Gary Karn, 48, was given an 18-month suspended prison sentence at Norwich Crown Court for sexually assaulting two girls, aged seven and eight. |
| Sentencing guidelines suggest a prison term of up to four years. | Sentencing guidelines suggest a prison term of up to four years. |
| Judge Mark Lucraft said he had to consider the "hardship" prison would cause Karn's wife and two children. | Judge Mark Lucraft said he had to consider the "hardship" prison would cause Karn's wife and two children. |
| Karn was convicted of three offences of sexual assault following a trial and was sentenced on 24 April. | Karn was convicted of three offences of sexual assault following a trial and was sentenced on 24 April. |
| 'Worked hard' | 'Worked hard' |
| His wife had written to the court saying that if he were jailed, Karn would lose his job and the family could lose their home. | His wife had written to the court saying that if he were jailed, Karn would lose his job and the family could lose their home. |
| Judge Mark Lucraft told Karn: "You are clearly a man who has worked hard and been in employment throughout your adult life, working for local businesses and working to support your family. | Judge Mark Lucraft told Karn: "You are clearly a man who has worked hard and been in employment throughout your adult life, working for local businesses and working to support your family. |
| "I have to consider the impact on them, people who are not in any way at fault for what has happened, yet might suffer serious hardship." | "I have to consider the impact on them, people who are not in any way at fault for what has happened, yet might suffer serious hardship." |
| Announcing Karn's sentence of 18 months, Judge Lucraft said he had considered whether it could be suspended. | Announcing Karn's sentence of 18 months, Judge Lucraft said he had considered whether it could be suspended. |
| "In the light of what I know about the impact on your family, I think it can - just," he said. | "In the light of what I know about the impact on your family, I think it can - just," he said. |
| Indecent photographs | Indecent photographs |
| Karn, of Firwood Close, Norwich, was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, made the subject of a five-year sexual offences prevention order and banned from working with children for five years. | |
| Judge Lucraft said he had taken into account six counts of possessing an extreme pornographic image and one count of possession of indecent photographs of a child, with which Karn was also charged. | Judge Lucraft said he had taken into account six counts of possessing an extreme pornographic image and one count of possession of indecent photographs of a child, with which Karn was also charged. |
| The Attorney General's office said it was considering whether to refer the case to the Court of Appeal, which has powers to increase a sentence if it is "unduly lenient". | The Attorney General's office said it was considering whether to refer the case to the Court of Appeal, which has powers to increase a sentence if it is "unduly lenient". |
| It said it had received a request from a member of the public for the sentence to be reviewed. | It said it had received a request from a member of the public for the sentence to be reviewed. |
| It has until 22 May to decide whether to refer the case to the Court of Appeal. | It has until 22 May to decide whether to refer the case to the Court of Appeal. |