SIR Keir Starmer sat on the Sentencing Council when it said a child rapist could swerve jail, it was claimed earlier today.
The body that sets guidelines for judges sending down criminals suggested in December 2012 “there is a necessity for flexibility within the sentencing regime” for rape of a child under 13.
It is claimed Sir Keir Starmer sat on more than 20 meetings on the Sentencing Council when it made controversial changes
As Director of Public Prosecutions, Sir Keir was a member of the council from 2008 to 2013 – attending more than 20 of its meetings.
Their 2012 review stated “a sentencer may decide that a non-custodial sentence is more appropriate”.
And their guidelines recommended “there may be exceptional cases where a lengthy community order … may be the best way” of dealing with an offender.
The guidelines were revised in May 2022 at the request of the Court of Appeal, according to former No10 and Home Office aide Nick Timothy writing in the Daily Telegraph.
Sir Keir’s record as a prosecutor has come under fresh scrutiny after he launched an astonishing attack last week, claiming PM Rishi Sunak did not believe all paedos should go to prison.
Tonight Conservative Party Deputy Chairman Lee Anderson said: “Sir Softie is desperately trying to hide his past as a left-wing lawyer who wrote the rules which led to softer sentences for some child sex offenders.
“The government has taken steps to change his guidelines and recently won a court case to get some of them junked.
“He just says whatever the politics suits.”
Sir Keir’s spokeswoman declined to comment.
