Freed paedophile case reviewed

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Porter, 38, of Okehampton Close, north London, was controversially handed a three-year community rehabilitation order after pleading guilty to 25 counts of indecent assault and gross indecency on young boys.

He had used his trusted position as a ministerial servant in the Jehovah's Witnesses to prey on vulnerable victims in Clevedon, Somerset, over a 14-year period. One of his victims was an 18-month-old baby.

Judge Tom Crowther opted not to jail the self-confessed paedophile at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday after hearing he had undergone therapy.

But the Attorney General's Office on Friday said it had requested the case papers to consider launching an appeal against the sentence.

A spokeswoman said: "The Attorney General's Office has asked for the case papers so consideration can be given to whether or not to refer the sentence to the Court of Appeal.

"A decision will be taken within 28 days. No view has been reached at this early stage."

The sentence provoked a furious reaction from victims' groups and the defendant's own sister, who branded the judge a soft touch.

Speaking on Thursday, Tina Hughes, 40, from Clevedon, said: "I'm absolutely disgusted. I'm very, very angry. We thought he would get a sentence of at least 12 months.

"I think the judge was absolutely pathetic. He just took my brother's side completely and believed that all he needed was a bit more therapy."