Judge ‘in error’ over sentence for Jeremy Vine stalker, says solicitor general

Alex Belfield could have been given longer prison term but legal technicality makes it too late to change

The judge who sentenced Jeremy Vine’s stalker to five and a half years in prison made a mistake and could have given Alex Belfield a higher sentence, one of the UK government’s most senior legal advisers has said.

Yet a legal technicality means the court of appeal will not consider whether Belfield’s sentence should be increased, the Guardian has learned. Belfield is appealing for a lower jail term, prompting calls for a reform in the law to give victims more time to appeal under the “unduly lenient scheme” (ULS).

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​Alex Belfield could have been given longer prison term but legal technicality makes it too late to changeThe judge who sentenced Jeremy Vine’s stalker to five and a half years in prison made a mistake and could have given Alex Belfield a higher sentence, one of the UK government’s most senior legal advisers has said.Yet a legal technicality means the court of appeal will not consider whether Belfield’s sentence should be increased, the Guardian has learned. Belfield is appealing for a lower jail term, prompting calls for a reform in the law to give victims more time to appeal under the “unduly lenient scheme” (ULS). Continue reading…