Increased Sentence After CPS Refer Attempted Murder Case
22/02/2012
The Court of Appeal has today increased the sentence that David Heslop will serve for the attempted murder of his ex-partner Emma Wilson.
He has now been given a more serious, indeterminate sentence for public protection. He will serve at least 14 years before he is considered for parole and will only be released when he is no longer considered to be a danger to the public.
In December 2010 he attempted to murder Emma Wilson by stabbing her many times with a kitchen knife after confronting her at her home address. Her six year old son and two of his friends were also in the house at the time. He was sentenced to 17 years imprisonment at Carlisle Crown Court in November 2011 after the trial. He would have served half of that time in prison, and half of it on licence in the community.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) considered that the sentence was unduly lenient and referred the case to the Attorney General, Dominic Grieve QC, who presented the case at the Court of Appeal.
Stuart Pattinson, Senior Crown Prosecutor in CPS Cumbria explained why the CPS had brought it to the attention of the Attorney General.
"David Heslop is clearly a very dangerous man. He carried out a horrifying assault on Emma Wilson, inflicting terrible injuries upon her. He carried out a pre-meditated attack with a knife whilst children were in the house."
"We took the view that David Heslop presented a very serious risk to the public. The increased sentence that has now been imposed means that David Heslop will remain in prison indefinitely to protect the public and will not be eligible to apply for parole for at least 14 years. He will remain in prison for as long as he is considered to be dangerous. I am grateful that the Attorney General and the Court of Appeal have given such close attention to the case."
The appeal was heard by Lady Justice Hallett, Mr Justice McCombe and Mr Justice Singh. Lady Justice Hallett said Heslop had a "dreadful record for violence" and had subjected his vulnerable victim to a sustained attack which she was fortunate to survive. She said that Heslop was dangerous, and only an indeterminate sentence could offer Miss Wilson and the public the protection they deserve.
