JUDGE INCREASES SENTENCE OF MAN WHO RAPED 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL MET ON TINDER
A man who met a 12-year-old girl through Tinder and went on to commit rape has had his original sentence increased after a judicial review found it to be excessively lenient.Jachin Mascall, aged 20, pleaded guilty to three counts of child rape in June 2021 at Inner London Crown Court.
Initially, he received a three-year community sentence consisting of 200 hours of unpaid work, 40 hours of rehabilitative activities, and participation in a 'choices and change' program.
However, a panel of three judges overturned this sentence on Monday, replacing it with a 36-month custodial sentence at a young offenders’ institution, along with an additional one-year supervised license.
Mascall, who was 19 at the time, had traveled from his family home in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, to London, where he spent 36 hours with the girl involved—who cannot be named due to legal restrictions.
Their time together included sexual encounters in a car park and at two railway stations.
Mascall admitted to the sexual activity but claimed he believed she was 16 or older, despite Tinder's minimum age being 18 and the girl asserting she was 20 at the time.
The original judge described the girl as a "highly vulnerable child" and characterized Mascall as "an ordinary, immature, and possibly naive young man," noting that there was no grooming or exploitation involved and that his mistaken belief about her age was reasonable.
Nevertheless, after the Solicitor General, Alex Chalk QC, appealed, the Court of Appeal found the initial sentence to be "unduly lenient." They emphasized that the sexual relationship appeared opportunistic and that Mascall did not challenge her unlikely explanation for why they did not go to her flat.
There was also no evidence supporting her claim of having access to a car.
Mascall is set to report to Luton police station at 4 pm on the upcoming Monday and must serve at least half of his custodial term before being eligible for parole.
Mr.
Chalk stated, "Mascall's actions caused harm to the victim and her family, and his naivety and immaturity are not valid defenses.
I support the increase in sentence, which accurately reflects the seriousness of his conduct."
