Tayo Wisdom

A Hertfordshire man, Tayo Wisdom, has had his prison sentence doubled following a referral to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. The 28-year-old was originally sentenced for the sexual assault of a woman who had fallen asleep in his flat after a night out.

The assault occurred when the victim was particularly vulnerable, asleep and unable to consent. Wisdom, taking advantage of her state, committed assault by penetration. The incident ended abruptly when the victim awoke and demanded that he stop, at which point he ceased his actions. This shocking breach of trust highlighted the severity of crimes committed against sleeping victims.

On 11 July 2022, at Wood Green Crown Court, Wisdom was initially sentenced to three years' imprisonment for the offence. However, the then Solicitor General, Edward Timpson CBE KC MP, deemed the sentence unduly lenient and referred the case to the Court of Appeal. The referral was made under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme, which allows for the review and potential increase of sentences considered too light for the crime committed.

On 23 September 2022, the Court of Appeal agreed with the referral, finding the original sentence insufficient given the gravity of the offence. The court increased Wisdom's term to six years' imprisonment, reinforcing judicial standards for such cases. Speaking after the hearing, the newly appointed HM Solicitor General, Michael Tomlinson MP, stated: 'Tayo Wisdom took advantage of a particularly vulnerable victim in this shocking incident. Today’s decision reinforces the message that such crimes, committed against victims who are asleep, will be treated especially seriously by the courts.'

This case was published by the Attorney General's Office under the 2022 Truss Conservative government, underscoring the government's commitment to ensuring appropriate punishments for sexual offences. The increased sentence serves as a deterrent and a statement on the seriousness with which the UK justice system views non-consensual acts, particularly those exploiting vulnerability.