Tom Acworth obtains seven year sentence reduction at Court of Appeal

30th October 2025

3PB's criminal law barrister Tom AcworthThomas AcworthCall: 2014, who is instructed in general crime, regulatory crime and police law, acted for FBD at first instance and in this Court of Appeal hearing. FBD had been convicted of 13 sexual offences, which were committed against five children in the late 1990s. He was sentenced to 32 years’ imprisonment.

The Court of Appeal agreed with Tom’s submissions that the sentence was manifestly excessive and reduced the overall term of imprisonment by seven years.

In a hearing that took place earlier this year, a differently-constituted Court of Appeal agreed with Tom’s submissions that the sentencing judge had been wrong to make a restraining order and that some terms of the sexual harm prevention order imposed were neither necessary nor proportionate.

Thomas was instructed by Theresa Tang of criminal defence solicitors Tang, Bentley & Jackson.

If you wish to instruct Tom, or see about his availability, please email his clerk Stuart Pringle on [email protected] or by calling him on 01962 868884.