ALAN DUTTON'S SENTENCE REDUCED IN STONE: AGE AND ILL HEALTH LEAD TO LENIENCY IN SEX OFFENDER CASE

In a significant development at Stafford Crown Court, Alan Frederick Dutton, an 81-year-old man from Bromfield Court, Stone, has seen his prison sentence substantially reduced following an appeal. Dutton, who was convicted of a series of heinous sexual offenses spanning over three decades, including attempted rape and multiple instances of rape and indecent assault against minors, initially received a 12-year incarceration term.

His crimes included an attempted assault on a 10-year-old girl, as well as rapes committed against two underage teenagers. The severity and prolonged nature of his offending prompted the court to impose a lengthy sentence, reflecting the gravity of his actions. Dutton pleaded guilty to a broad range of charges, which led to his initial sentencing on February 11 at Stafford Crown Court.

However, the case took a turn when the Court of Appeal, comprising Lord Justice Elias, Mr. Justice Wyn Williams, and Mr. Justice Holroyde, convened in London to review the sentence. The appellate court decided to reduce Dutton’s term from 12 years to nine, citing his advanced age and frailty as key factors influencing the decision. The judges acknowledged that, had Dutton been significantly younger, the original sentence might have been deemed appropriate and unassailable.

The court also heard harrowing testimony from one of Dutton’s victims, who was so deeply traumatized by the assault that she experienced suicidal thoughts and engaged in self-harm. This testimony underscored the profound impact of Dutton’s crimes on his victims and added weight to the argument for a longer sentence.

Legal representatives for Dutton appealed for leniency, emphasizing his age and physical condition. They argued that a 12-year sentence was excessive given his frailty and health issues. Mr. Justice Wyn Williams commented on the case, stating, “This sentence was manifestly excessive by reason of the age he had reached by the time of sentence and by virtue of the fact that he suffers from ill health. If he had been a significantly younger man, this sentence would be unimpeachable.”

He further explained that Dutton was entitled to full credit for his early guilty plea, which was taken into account during sentencing, and that the reduction to nine years was justified under the circumstances. The decision reflects a balance between the severity of the crimes and considerations of the offender’s age and health, highlighting the complexities involved in sentencing elderly offenders convicted of serious crimes.