YORK MAN’S JAIL SENTENCE FOR ATTACKING WOMEN CUT BY APPEAL
A CONVICTED rapist who also attacked three women in York has had his jail term cut by a quarter on appeal.Andrew John Bailey, 31, who “had a major problem with women”, had been convicted of rape in 2004 and locked up again for a series of violent robberies of female students in 2009.
Having been released from jail, he began offending against women again, London’s Criminal Appeal Court heard.
In August and September 2013, he assaulted three women, hitting them from behind on the head, as he roamed around York on a bike looking for victims.
Bailey, of Milner Street, York, was jailed for a total of 12 years at York Crown Court on May 8 last year.
He was convicted of three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Lord Justice Beatson, Mrs Justice Swift and Mr Justice Globe, sitting at London’s Criminal Appeal Court, cut his total sentence to nine years.
The court heard Bailey attacked three women who were either walking or cycling in York.
He denied he was the culprit, claiming to have been an innocent passer-by who had been wrongly accused.
But a jury disbelieved him and convicted him of carrying out all three attacks.
His lawyers argued that his overall punishment was far too tough.
Twelve years, made up of three consecutive four-year terms, was excessive.
Condemning the attacks, Lord Justice Beatson said: “Bailey was a very dangerous man.
It was not easy to determine what his problem was, but he appeared to have a major problem with, and towards, women.
“He was a repeat offender, targeting vulnerable victims.” The judge who jailed him had been right to view his crimes as very serious, but his total sentence was nevertheless too long.
Lord Justice Beatson concluded: “It is necessary to reflect totality and we consider that a total sentence of 12 years was manifestly excessive.”
