A Crown Court judge who sentenced a paedophile to eight years and two months has taken the unusual step of writing to the local newspaper to explain issues surrounding the sentencing process.

The sentence, for indecent assaults on two small girls and a disabled woman, meant the defendant could be freed after four years - which caused anger following the events at Hull Crown Court.

The parents of one of the victims, a four-year-old girl, hit out in the Hull Daily Mail at what they described as a lenient sentence, which was handed down in September.

The couple had appealed for the sentence to be referred to the Court of Appeal but were refused by the Attorney General.

But Judge John Heppel QC felt the issue was important enough to send a four-page letter to the Hull Daily Mail to describe and explain the limitations of sentencing powers for judges.

He did not comment on any individual cases in the correspondence - but labelled the issue as an "important and sensitive topic".

He also attacked ill-informed editorial comment in newspapers but backed the role of the press in the justice system.

Judge Heppel wrote: "The power of the sentencing judge to take into account what the offender might do is limited.

"In the case of a violent or sexual offence (only) a judge may pass a sentence longer than would otherwise be appropriate in order to protect the public from harm from the offender."

He added: "It is of fundamental importance to the criminal justice system that the business of the Crown Court is reported in, and is the subject of comment by, the local press.

"Victims of crime, their relatives and the general public must be free to speak out.

"However, it is a trite but necessary observation that public debate on this controversial issue is not assisted by over-selective reporting that distorts the judge's sentencing remarks.

"The same can be said for ill-informed editorial comment."

The parents of the four-year-old girl have reacted angrily to Judge Heppel's comments and defended the Mail's coverage of the case.

The Judge was responding to articles in the Mail and an editorial comment the day after sentencing, which said:

"What makes his case even more disturbing is that this twisted and unstable individual was as recently as last year in jail for similar offences.

"And, to add insult to injury, there is a possibility he may only have to serve half of his sentence.

"Even if Taylor serves the full term of his sentence, he will be allowed out when his youngest victim is only 12.

"It need not have been so. Each of the three indecent assault charges the paedophile faced carried a maximum jail sentence of 10 years.

"No doubt the judge has his reasons for not bringing down the full force of the law in this case.

"The judiciary must recognise the growing sense of public bewilderment and dissatisfaction at cases such as this."

The story and debate looks set to continue after the same judge this week jailed a different paedophile for life.

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