On 21 November 2025, the Court of Appeal increased the sentence for Brandon Smith, 25, from Denton, Greater Manchester, following a referral under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. The court set a 17-year custodial term and confirmed a three-year extended licence.
According to the official GOV.UK summary of the case, Smith did not know the victim but had watched her over six months and identified her route to work. On the morning of 5 July 2024, he grabbed her during her commute, threatened to stab her if she made any noise, dragged her behind bushes and raped her. He then threatened to kill her mother if she reported the attack.
Throughout proceedings Smith denied guilt. He initially claimed he had never met the victim, then asserted consent when forensic evidence established contact. A jury at Bolton Crown Court found him guilty on five counts on 8 January 2025, including rape, assault by penetration and sexual assault.
On 30 April 2025, Bolton Crown Court imposed 12 years and six months’ imprisonment with a three-year extended licence and made a restraining order. That sentence was referred to the Court of Appeal by the Solicitor General for review under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.
The Court of Appeal increased the custodial term to 17 years while maintaining the three-year extension period on licence. The restraining order remains in force. The appellate review concerned only the level of sentence; the convictions were not in issue.
An extended sentence is used for serious sexual and violent offences where the court assesses an ongoing risk. It comprises a custodial term plus an extended period on licence in the community. A prisoner serving an extended sentence may be considered for release by the Parole Board after serving at least two-thirds of the custodial term; if release is not directed, they can be required to serve the full custodial term. On release, they are supervised on licence for the remainder of that term and then for the additional extension period, and may be recalled to prison if risk rises or conditions are breached.
The Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme permits certain Crown Court sentences to be referred to the Court of Appeal where the Law Officers of England and Wales-the Attorney General and Solicitor General-consider them too low for the seriousness of the offence. Members of the public, including victims, can ask the Law Officers to review a case, but any referral must be made within 28 days of the original sentencing. The Court will only increase a sentence if it finds the original to be outside the range reasonably open to the judge.
In a public statement, the Solicitor General, Rt Hon Ellie Reeves MP, described the attack as appalling and welcomed the decision to increase the sentence, aligning this outcome with the government’s stated objective to reduce violence against women and girls.
For victims and the public, the practical effect of the appellate decision is a longer period in custody and an extended window of supervision on release, providing probation services with more time to manage risk and recall if necessary. Any eventual release will follow statutory provisions for extended sentences and depend on Parole Board assessment at the relevant time.