Jaswent Rai

In December 2019, Jaswent Rai, then aged 45, uploaded indecent images of children onto Instagram, an action that triggered a police investigation leading to the search of his home in March 2020. During the search, authorities seized his electronic devices, which revealed a collection of indecent images depicting children aged between 6 and 16 years old. Evidence showed that Rai had not only possessed these images but also distributed them by uploading to various online social media networks. Additionally, the devices contained extreme pornographic images involving bestiality.

Rai, now 47, pleaded guilty to three counts of distributing indecent images of children, one count of possessing extreme pornographic images, and three counts of making indecent images of children. The case was heard at Manchester Crown Court, where on 18 August 2021, he was initially sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment, suspended for two years. The sentence included requirements to complete the Maps for Change programme, 10 days of Rehabilitation Activity Requirement, and 150 hours of unpaid work.

However, the Solicitor General at the time, The Rt Hon Michael Ellis QC MP, referred the sentence to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme, arguing that it did not reflect the severity of the offences. On 12 October 2021, the Court of Appeal concurred, finding the original sentence unduly lenient, and increased it to a custodial term of two years' imprisonment. This decision was published by the Attorney General's Office under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government.

Following the appeal hearing, the then Solicitor General, Alex Chalk QC MP, commented: “The images held and shared online by Rai are truly shocking and abhorrent. I am pleased with the result of today’s hearing, and that the Court of Appeal agrees a custodial sentence meets the gravity of the crime.” The case underscores the authorities' commitment to pursuing harsher penalties for child sexual exploitation offences, with the intervention ensuring Rai served time in custody for his actions.