March 2011 Sex attacker has jail sentence slashed THE sentence of a child sex attacker who rubbed his hands against a young girl has been cut by a quarter by leading judges. Philip Mark Burnham, 35, of Highfield Road, Blacon, was put behind bars for 20 months last November after he admitted sexually assaulting a girl of primary school age. Lawyers for Burnham felt the sentence imposed at Aylesbury Crown Court in Buckinghamshire was too long considering the girl was oblivious to the attack.
Three senior judges at the Court of Appeal in London agreed and cut the prison term to 15 months.
Mr Justice Bean told the court Burnham was jailed in 1997 for indecently assaulting young girls and a boy, but targeted another girl last year, some years after his release from prison.
The police were later informed that Burnham had made contact with the girl and in an interview he admitted what he had done.
Jonathan Mitchell, for Burnham, said he had dealt with his attraction to young children after his first term of imprisonment but had “fallen off the wagon” last year.
He argued the 20-month jail term was “manifestly excessive” considering Burnham’s victim was not aware of his indecent attentions and he had admitted his crime.
Mr Justice Bean, sitting with Sir Anthony May and Mr Justice Eder, said: “This was not only a case of an early plea of guilty, but one where the victim was fortunately entirely unaware of what had happened “It was only by his own admission to the police that the appellant enabled a case against him to be brought.
“We are aware that the sentencing judge is extremely experienced in these matters. Nevertheless we consider a lower starting point should have been taken.”