'Unduly lenient' prison term for rapist increased

A rapist has had his prison sentence increased by two-and-a-half years following a hearing at the Court of Appeal.

Gloucestershire Police said Aaron Akram's initial four-year prison sentence was referred to the Attorney General's office under the Unduly Lenient Scheme. It was increased to six-and-a-half years on 14 May.

Akram, 27, from Painswick, was convicted by a jury of two counts of rape in November.

Following the successful appeal, the victim said: "He has always had a manipulative way of talking his way out of anything, and won't take no for an answer."

As well as the prison sentence, Akram was given a 15-year restraining order against the victim, who was known to him.

During the trial, the jury heard how the victim repeatedly refused to have sexual intercourse with Akram when he persistently turned up at her home.

"I want people to know who he is and what he did to me, so that he can't treat other women like this in the future," she said.

She added that she felt like she was "protecting" Akram by putting up with his actions for years and years, until she told her friends and family about what had happened.

"For me to have been believed means everything, and it felt so empowering to hear the word 'guilty'," she added.

Gloucestershire Police Staff Investigator Catherine Law said the victim has shown "remarkable strength and resilience" throughout the case.

She added: "I hope that the outcome brings her some form of closure and peace moving forward.

"Her bravery and perseverance stand as an example of strength for other victims, showing that event through hardship, it is possible to continue with courage."

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