Mike Penning welcomes new Attorney General's decision to appeal rape sentence.

On Friday, Mike heard that the new Attorney General, Baroness Scotland, will appeal the sentencing in this case.

Mike said:

"This is excellent news. At last it appears we have someone in authority with some common sense. I am very concerned about the message we send to paedophiles with such lenient sentences. This was rape and the child was just 10 years old."

"I am particularly concerned about this young girl. She has been in care since the age of four so she has no parents who can support her or who can call for the sentence to be reviewed.

I have received overwhelming support for taking a stance on this issue – from people all across the country. They will be pleased to hear that our new Attorney General is taking up this case."

In April this year and following a series of high profile similar cases, Mike Penning called for a debate in the House of Commons on leniency in sentencing guidelines.