Child sex offender's sentence to be reviewed

Government law officers are considering whether a suspended sentence handed to a child sex offender may have been too lenient.

Samuel Huckle, from Cowes, avoided jail after being convicted of possessing and distributing indecent images of children.

The 20-year-old, who was sentenced at Isle of Wight Crown Court on Friday, was handed a 16-month jail term, suspended for two years.

The Attorney General's office confirmed it had received a request for the sentence to be considered under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

In addition to the suspended sentence, Huckle was ordered to undertake a 26-day programme, a 10-day rehabilitation activity and 180 hours of unpaid work.

Under the government scheme, anyone can ask for a crown court sentence to be reviewed if they think it is too short.

A statement from the Attorney General's office said: "Only one referral is needed for a case to be considered and the law officers have 28 days from sentencing to consider the case and make a decision."

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