A PERVERT jailed for 13-and-a-half years for raping a little girl and assaulting another has had his sentence slashed by top judges on appeal in London.
Malcolm Goodhall, aged 57, of Sunderland Terrace, Measborough Dike, Barnsley, was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court in March after admitting a string of sexual offences against children including four counts of rape of a little girl.
Now three to
p judges at the Court of Appeal in London have granted a two-and-a-half year reduction in his jail term.
The decision, by Lord Justice Hooper, Mr Justice Silber and Mr Justice Underhill, could result in Goodhall being freed from prison after serving just five-and-a-half years - half his new sentence.
Mr Justice Silber told the court Goodhall indecently assaulted one of the girls and raped her before she had reached her teenage years.
The second girl was just 11 when he indecently assaulted her and kissed her.
In March Goodhall was told a "substantial custodial sentence" was inevitable, particularly given the "considerable distress" he had caused his young victims.
But lawyers representing him at the Court of Appeal argued 13-and-a-half years was "manifestly excessive" in circumstances where he must have received a 25 per cent reduction in his sentence for his guilty pleas.
READ MOREYour letters.
Today's features.Latest sport.Main news index.The full article contains 236 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
