Steven Ball represents client in the Court of Appeal

Steven Ball appeared in the Court of Appeal on behalf of his client who had been convicted at Cambridge Crown Court of arranging the commission of a child sex offence and related offences involving indecent images and drugs. He was sentenced to 12 years custody, required to sign the sex offenders’ register and made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The Defendant had been live streaming with cam- girls in the Philippines and had sought to arrange for the live sexual  abuse of young children.  The police obtained evidence of these explicit messages persistently requesting this.

The Court of Appeal was asked to determine whether the sentence was manifestly excessive. The court declined to criticise the assessment of where the matter fell within the Sentencing Guidelines as what the Appellant had intended was extremely serious.   It was further argued that the trial judge had failed to reflect within the sentence that no children were actually harmed as a result of the arrangements the client had sought to make.

The Court of Appeal concluded that the sentence was manifestly excessive and the custodial term was reduced from 11.5  years to  9.5 years making the total  sentence 10 years

Steven Ball was instructed by Hunt and Coombes Solicitors.

Steven Ball: https://redlionchambers.co.uk/barrister/steven-ball/

BBC News story here