Fury at child abuser's sentence

LONDON - British Home Secretary John Reid called on the courts yesterday to reconsider a judge's ruling that could allow a paedophile who abducted and abused a 3-year-old girl to be freed in five years.

Craig Sweeney, 24, was given a life sentence at Cardiff Crown Court for snatching the girl from her home and sexually assaulting her three times, but was told he will be considered for parole after a minimum sentence of five years and 108 days.

The girl's family were furious at the sentence. The Home Office said: "The Home Secretary is concerned the tariff does not reflect the seriousness of this crime and is writing to the Attorney-General to ask him to consider referring the sentence to the Court of Appeal as unduly lenient."

Sweeney, of Newport, committed the assault about 17 months after being released halfway though a three-year sentence for sexually assaulting a 6-year-old.

- INDEPENDENT