CRAIG LATHAM RAMSEY CHILD SEX ABUSER GETS SENTENCE INCREASE AFTER JUDICIAL REVIEW

In a case that has drawn significant attention from the legal community and the public alike, Craig Latham, a man residing in Great Whyte, Ramsey, has seen his initial prison sentence for a series of heinous crimes against children substantially increased following an appeal. The case, which involves multiple counts of sexual assault spanning over two decades, highlights the serious nature of the offenses and the judicial system's response to perceived leniency in sentencing.

Initially, in June 2006, Latham, aged 46 at the time, was sentenced to six years in prison at Peterborough Crown Court after being convicted of three counts of indecent assault on a young boy and one count of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 16. The crimes, which occurred more than 20 years prior, involved Latham forming a seemingly trusting relationship with the children while babysitting them in Ramsey. The court was told that Latham exploited this trust to commit his offenses, which only came to light in February 2003 when one of the victims confided in a friend about the abuse.

It was revealed that the male victim, now 24, endured ongoing abuse until he was approximately ten years old. Although Latham did not rape him again after the initial incident, he committed other indecent acts on at least three separate occasions. The court heard that after one such assault, Latham warned the boy that if he told anyone, both of them would face imprisonment. This threat was intended to silence the victim and prevent him from reporting the abuse.

During the original trial, Latham denied all charges, claiming that the allegations were part of a conspiracy against him. He maintained that he had no previous convictions for sexual offenses. His defense attorney, Stephen Spence, argued that Latham had always denied the accusations and suggested that the case was fabricated. The court was informed that Latham had used games like hide and seek to isolate the children, which he then exploited to commit his crimes. On one occasion, he entered the boy’s room during babysitting and sexually assaulted him, with the victim recalling that he was too frightened to scream and pretended to be asleep.

Similarly, the court heard how Latham used playful activities to lure the nine-year-old girl into situations where he indecently assaulted her, including a disturbing incident where he suggested they hide under a duvet together. The girl testified that she remembered what had happened but tried to suppress the memory.

Following the initial sentencing, the Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith QC, intervened, arguing that the punishment was unduly lenient given the severity and planning involved in the offenses. Last Thursday, the Criminal Appeal Court in London reviewed the case and decided to increase Latham’s sentence. The panel, comprising Lord Justice Hooper, Mr Justice Aikens, and Mr Justice Lloyd Jones, quashed the original six-year term and imposed a new sentence of nine years. They determined that the appropriate starting point for the sentence should have been around eight years, but due to the aggravating factors, including the premeditation involved, the sentence was justified to be higher.

Lord Justice Hooper emphasized that the sentence should have been approximately ten years, considering the circumstances. He stated, “We take the view the sentence that ought to have been passed would be in the region of about 10 years,” highlighting the seriousness of the crimes and the manipulative tactics Latham employed to commit them. The court’s decision underscores the importance of proportionate sentencing in cases involving child abuse, especially when the offenses are committed over an extended period and involve betrayal of trust in a caregiving role.