Dean Terrance Fish

In a significant case highlighting the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme, Dean Terrance Fish, a 35-year-old man from Gloucestershire, has been jailed for child sexual offences following an appeal by the Solicitor General.

On 13 July 2021, Fish pleaded guilty to ten counts of child sexual offences at Gloucestershire Magistrates’ Court. His crimes involved engaging in sexual activity with two children online, during which he retained video recordings of the activity. Additionally, Fish possessed a collection of indecent images of children, underscoring the severity and exploitative nature of his actions.

Initially, on 19 August 2021, Fish was sentenced at Gloucester Crown Court to 2 years’ imprisonment, suspended for 2 years. This lenient outcome prompted the then Solicitor General, Alex Chalk QC MP, to refer the sentence to the Court of Appeal under the ULS scheme, arguing that it did not adequately reflect the gravity of the offences.

On 20 October 2021, the Court of Appeal reviewed the case and determined that the original sentence was unduly lenient. The court increased Fish's sentence to an immediate 3 years’ imprisonment, ensuring he would serve time in prison for his abhorrent crimes. Speaking after the hearing, Alex Chalk QC MP stated: "Fish’s crimes were abhorrent and very upsetting, and I am glad that the Court of Appeal agreed that the sentence was unduly lenient. No sentence can make up for the damage he has caused, but I hope the Court’s decision will bring some level of comfort to the victims and their families."

This case was published by the Attorney General's Office under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government, serving as a reminder of the mechanisms in place to address inappropriately light sentences for serious sexual offences against children. The prosecuting authority relates to Gloucestershire, with the case handled through local courts.