July 2015 A Blackpool man serving a nine-year term for sex attacks on a girl when he was in his early teens deserves every day of his sentence, appeal judges have ruled. Brandon Hutchinson, 22, of Warley Road, was caged at Preston Crown Court in January after he was convicted of a string of sex attacks. Hutchinson had allegations against him going back to when he was just nine, but was convicted of others which happened later. Today, rejecting an appeal against his sentence, three top judges said the nine-year term was richly deserved. Judge Deborah Taylor said the offences were considered to be far from ‘innocent childish sexual exploitation’. The court heard Hutchinson was convicted of three rapes, two indecent assaults and sexual activity with a child. However, his lawyers argued that the sentence he received was far too tough. He had himself been very young when the first allegations were made against him, the court was told. Although he had gone on to do well in his studies, he had been originally classed as a child with ‘special educational needs’. Despite that, he had grown up, got a job and maintained a relationship, Judge Taylor, Lady Justice Rafferty and Mr Justice Cranston heard. Giving judgment, Judge Taylor said it was clear that the crown court judge had given ‘substantial credit’ for Hutchinson’s youth at the time of offending. “We conclude that the sentences passed for these serious offences were neither wrong in law nor manifestly excessive,” she said. The appeal was dismissed.