ANDREW SYMES FROM WESTON-SUPER-MARE SENTENCED AFTER ABUSING 11-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN BRISTOL

In a significant legal development, Andrew Symes, a resident of Weston-super-Mare, has seen his original sentence for serious sexual offenses against a young girl increased following an appeal. Symes, aged 47, was initially convicted of multiple counts of sexual assault involving an 11-year-old girl and received a 12-month jail sentence that was suspended for two years. However, the Court of Appeal, recognizing the gravity of his crimes, decided that the original sentence was "unduly lenient" and ordered that he serve a prison term of 15 months instead.

Symes appeared in London’s Criminal Appeal Court, visibly distressed, shaking, and crying as he was informed of the decision. He arrived carrying a suitcase of belongings, indicating he was prepared for a period of incarceration. The judges, including Lord Justice Moses, granted him a seven-day window to notify his employers and to accompany his 79-year-old father to a scheduled medical appointment before surrendering to police custody next week to begin his sentence.

The case originated from Bristol Crown Court earlier this year, where Symes was convicted on five counts of sexual assault. The court had initially sentenced him to a 12-month jail term, suspended for two years, and mandated that he register as a sex offender for ten years. The appeal was brought forward by lawyers representing the Attorney General, Baroness Scotland QC, who argued that the original sentence was too lenient given the severity of the offenses.

Lord Justice Moses, sitting alongside Mr. Justice Openshaw and Judge Peter Rook QC, concurred with the appeal, emphasizing that the sentence should reflect the seriousness of the crimes. The judges pointed out that there was no justification for the Crown Court judge to deviate from standard sentencing guidelines. The court detailed that Symes had subjected the young girl to abuse on five separate occasions, beginning when she was just 11 years old. The abuse only came to light when the girl confided in her mother, leading to Symes’s conviction.

Symes’s sentencing marks a stern reminder of the judicial system’s stance on child abuse cases, especially when the crimes involve repeated offenses against vulnerable minors. He is scheduled to surrender to authorities next week, where he will commence his prison term, following the court’s decision to increase his sentence after the appeal.