July 2007 Victims’ mother furious after paedophile’s sentence is cut A MUM whose two young sons were abused by a child minder is furious after not being told that his sentence had been slashed. The boys’ family only found out the distressing decision after reading a newspaper report Adrian Crumpton, 26, of Malborough Street, Darnley, admitted three counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child and one of attempting to engage in sexual activity with a child on the boys who were aged under 14 at the time. He was given a four-and-half year sentence at Leeds Crown Court in January this year. Crumpton worked at the Teddy Baker day nursery in Stanley and at Stanley Grove Primary School. The boys’ mother said she entered into a private arrangement with him to look after her children occasionally when she was out. But last week, top judges at the Court of Appeal ruled Crumpton’s punishment had been manifestly excessive and decided to slash the sentence to three-and-half years. The boys’ mother, who cannot be identified, only received a letter from the probation service eight days after the court case. The 37-year-old, who lives in Wakefield, said: “It was a devastating way for us to find out. I’m horrified that he seems to have been given some leniency. This man has devastated our lives. “I haven’t told my boys what’s happened. I can’t because I can’t explain to them why it’s been done. “How can someone justify reducing his sentence when we have to live with a life sentence because of his despicable actions?” A judge at the Court of Appeal said Crumpton had not been given enough credit for his guilty plea or the fact one of the attempts at sexual activity ended in failure. Ruth Kerry, Victims’ Services officer for West Yorkshire, said: “It’s unfortunate that the family heard the outcome of this appeal through the press. “The role of the probation service victims’ service unit is to keep victims and their families informed about the sentences given to offenders. “As soon as we receive written notification we pass this on usually by phone, but if we are unable to contact the victim by phone we send the information in a letter by first class.”