Following a lengthy and tortuous legal process, the man who abused me for years during my childhood was convicted by a Crown Court on five serious offences.

This was profoundly important to me, because it meant that, in my 50s, I had finally been heard, been believed, and the judicial system had enabled me to achieve some justice. However, in following the sentencing rules, in March 2023 the Judge imposed a total sentence of under 8 years, with half of the sentence to be served in prison. This felt grossly unfair relative to what I endured and the serious psychological harm I have struggled with ever since. I was also wanting to achieve fair justice for me, in the hope that it might provide some solace to Gordon Frederick Suckley's many other victims; for it was only my case that the CPS felt able to give the go-ahead for criminal prosecution.

I found the courage to appeal the sentence. The process was to submit my appeal to the Attorney General , for consideration. I was fortunate that the outcome was for my appeal to be heard by the Royal Courts of Justice's Criminal Court of Appeal. The appeal was led on my behalf by the serious crime and counter-terrorism team in the national CPS. Three Justices, led by a Lord Justice heard - and upheld - the appeal. The result was to increase the sentence to 17.5 years, with at least 10.5 years served in prison. I felt this was fairer, that the man who had cruelly and systematically subjected myself and at least 20 others to physical, emotional and sexual abuse, would be in a prison for at least ten years.

That was over a year ago. Yesterday, I met with a serious crimes Victim Officer from the Prison & Probation (P&P) arm of the Ministry of Justice. The person revealed that, according to their records, the total sentence is 13.5 years and the abuser will be released three years earlier than the Court of Appeal ordered!

I have asked the Victim Officer to escalate this matter. I have also alerted the Court of Appeal. It cannot be right that, in the process of handover from the Judicial arm of the MoJ to the P&P arm of the MoJ, the sentence can be diminished. This is very serious and I am determined to reinstate the fairness that I fought so hard to achieve.

I will provide an update once this matter is progressed.

Thank you for reading.