A BURNLEY man who raped a woman during a night out had his three year prison sentence increased to five and a half years by the Court of Appeal.

James Patton was convicted at Burnley Crown Court in November last year on a single count of rape after being caught taking advantage of a woman during a drunken night out.

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He was originally sentenced to three years in jail.

However, after a referral by the Solicitor General Robert Buckland QC MP, the Court of Appeal today quashed the original sentence and raised Patton’s jail term to five and a half years’ imprisonment.

Speaking yesterday after the hearing, Solicitor General Robert Buckland said: “Given the circumstances of this case, I felt that the original sentence passed was unduly lenient and that a longer sentence should have been imposed.

“This case has had a terrible impact on the victim and I hope this increased sentence gives them some additional comfort.”