January 2012 Paedophile’s sentence cut A paedophile who molested four children in sex attacks spanning three decades has had his sentence cut – because he has learning difficulties. Alan Scorfield, of Worcester Way, Melbourn, was jailed indefinitely for public protection at Cambridge Crown Court last April after admitting rape, inciting a child aged under 13 to engage in sexual activity, indecent assault, and assault by penetration. He was ordered to serve a minimum term of six-and-a-half years but Roger Harrison, representing the 51-year-old at London’s Court of Appeal, said this was too long because Scorfield has a low reading age, a poor IQ, and had admitted his crimes. Judges cut the term to five-and-a-half year, ruling that the original sentence was “manifestly excessive” given the “moderate to severe learning difficulties”. Mr Justice Irwin, sitting with Lady Justice Hallett and Mr Justice Eady, said: “It seems to us this is too long . . . for this offender, given that the future risk is to be dealt with by the indefinite penalty and there is some mitigation and his borderline intelligence.” Scorfield was convicted of sexually abusing a 16-year-old boy in 1978, and more recently an 8-year-old boy, an 8-year-old girl, and two 9-year-old girls.