Ryan Sutton's prison sentence increased to nine years

Ryan Sutton, a 24-year-old from Worcester, has had his prison sentence increased by three years for raping a 10-year-old girl. He was originally sentenced to six years in December 2023 after pleading guilty to multiple sexual offences, including the rape of a child under 13. The Court of Appeal raised his sentence to nine years earlier this month after the solicitor general, Lucy Rigby, intervened under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. Rigby described Sutton’s actions as "truly abhorrent" and expressed her concern for the victim and her family. She emphasized the government's commitment to protecting women and girls from abuse. Sutton met the young girl through social media in March 2023. He groomed her with flattery and gifts, sending sexual messages and photographs. They communicated on FaceTime 225 times over a two-week period. On April 23, Sutton traveled to meet the girl, where he raped her. He fled the scene when spotted but was later arrested.