Judge Branded Sex Offender “Jack the Lad” Sparks Outrage
A part-time judge has come under fire for calling a convicted sex offender a “Jack the lad” during sentencing, sparking sharp criticism from an appeal court judge.
Recorder John Hardy made the controversial remark while sentencing Aaron Hewson, 33, at Norwich Crown Court in April. Hewson was convicted of three sexual assaults.
Appeal Court Slams Inappropriate Language
At a hearing on Thursday, Lady Justice Macur slammed Recorder Hardy’s choice of words as totally unacceptable. She said labelling a serious sex offender “Jack the lad” was deeply inappropriate and downplayed the severity of the crimes.
“The offences were predatory and grave,” Lady Justice Macur stated, condemning the judge’s tone.
Sentence Doubled After Appeal
Originally handed a sentence of three years and 11 months, Hewson’s jail term was almost doubled to seven years following the appeal.
- Three appeal judges – Lady Justice Macur, Mrs Justice Cockerill, and Mr Justice Murray – ruled the original sentence was unduly lenient.
- Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson had lodged the appeal against the initial term.
Hewson, from Cromer, Norfolk, also has a history of violence and previous sex offence convictions, including possession of extreme pornographic images in his youth.
Defence Calls Original Sentence Fair
Charles Burton, representing Hewson, argued the initial verdict was appropriate, insisting it wasn’t overly lenient. But the appeal judges found serious faults in Recorder Hardy’s sentencing approach.
The judges’ decision to increase Hewson’s sentence reflects the gravity of his actions and disapproval of the original judge’s cavalier language.
