PC Andrew Harper's widow says she feels 'let down' by justice system after Court of Appeal REFUSES to increase jail terms for his teenage killers as she slams the 'far too lenient' sentences that 'do not reflect the barbarity of the crime'
- Henry Long, 19, was jailed in July for 16 years over death of police traffic officer
- Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, both 18, were also handed 13 years in custody
- All three were cleared of murder by the jury, which deliberated for over 12 hours
- At a hearing in November, Attorney General said sentences should be increased
- Dame Victoria Sharp today dismissed the application to increase trio's jail termsThe widow of PC Andrew Harper said today she feels 'disappointed' and 'let down' by the justice system after Court of Appeal judges refused to increase the jail terms for his teenage killers.
Henry Long, 19, was jailed for 16 years and 18-year-olds Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers were handed 13 years in custody for the manslaughter of the Thames Valley Police traffic officer who was dragged to his death behind a car.
Today Dame Victoria Sharp at the Court of Appeal dismissed Attorney General Suella Braverman's challenge to extend their sentences, saying that 'mere disagreement' with the jail terms did not provide grounding for finding the sentencing 'unduly lenient' or 'wrong in principle'.
The judges also denied the killers’ attempt to have their manslaughter sentences reduced. But in another bitter blow to PC Harper's widow the court did decide to reduce sentences imposed on Cole and Bowers for conspiracy to steal, from 38 months’ detention to an 18-month detention and training order.
PC Harper, 28, was killed after he was caught in a strap attached to the back of a car driven by Long and dragged to his death down a winding country road as the trio fled the scene of a quad bike theft in Berkshire on the night of August 15, 2019.
Long - the leader of the group - admitted manslaughter, while passengers Cole and Bowers were convicted of manslaughter after a trial at the Old Bailey. All three were cleared of murder by the jury, which deliberated for more than 12 hours.
Today his widow Lissie Harper, who was married to PC Harper for just four weeks before he was killed, slammed the Court of Appeal decision as 'disappointing' and slammed the 'far too lenient' sentences, which 'do not reflect the barbarity of the crime'.
Shadow Home Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds described the news as 'disappointing' while Nottinghamshire's British Transport Police (BTP) said it was 'devastated'.
Thames Valley's Police and Crime Commissioner said many will be 'understandably disappointed' by the ruling, but reminded that the killers' own appeals against their sentences were also dismissed.
PC Andrew Harper (pictured with his wife, Lissie), 28, was caught in a strap attached to the back of a car driven by Long and dragged to his death down a country road in Berkshire in 2019
Lissie Harper, the widow of PC Harper, pictured speaking in Oxfordshire today. She has slammed the 'far too lenient' sentences, saying they 'do not reflect the barbarity of the crime'
Handout issued by Thames Valley Police of Henry Long (left), 19, and 18-year-olds Jessie Cole (centre) and Albert Bowers (right), who were jailed over the death of the police traffic officerCole and Bowers will only serve two thirds of their sentences behind bars and the rest on licence.
At a hearing in November, Attorney General Suella Braverman said the youths' sentences should be increased, for an offence that was 'as serious a case of manslaughter as it is possible to envisage'.
Referring to the Attorney General's argument that the sentences imposed on Long, Bowers and Cole were 'unduly lenient', Dame Victoria said today: 'The judge had to sentence three young offenders for manslaughter, not for murder.
'Mere disagreement with his decisions as to the nature and length of the appropriate sentences provides neither a ground for finding the sentencing to have been unduly lenient nor a ground for finding a sentence to have been wrong in principle or manifestly excessive.'
Lawyers representing Long, Cole and Bowers, who appeared by video-link from HMP Belmarsh, argued that their sentences were too long and should be reduced.
On Wednesday morning, Dame Victoria - sitting with Lord Justice Holroyde and Mr Justice William Davis - rejected Long, Cole and Bowers' appeals against their sentences for manslaughter as 'wholly unarguable', but did reduce their sentences for conspiracy to steal.Dame Victoria added: 'This does not affect the sentences for manslaughter and, because the sentences were concurrent, it does not affect the overall length of the sentences.'
She added: 'The effect of our decision is that all three offenders remain convicted of the manslaughter of PC Harper and the overall length of their custodial sentences remain unaltered.'
In a statement after the ruling, a spokesman for the Attorney General's Office said: 'The Attorney General challenged the sentences given to PC Harper's killers as she considered them to be too low, but she respects the decision of the Court of Appeal.
'Her thoughts remain with PC Harper's family for their unimaginable loss.'
PC Harper, pictured above. Long - the leader of the group - admitted manslaughter, while passengers Cole and Bowers were convicted of manslaughter after a trial at the Old Bailey
Lissie Harper, pictured above. The Court of Appeal has ruled that the sentences for manslaughter handed to PC Harper's killers will not be changed
'Many days I have spent fighting against an inadequate sentence and a wrong-doing that I could not accept.
'I wish to offer my sincere gratitude to the Attorney General and show my respect to her for the decisions she made regarding the undue leniency of this case.
'I know that she made the right decisions in seeking review of these sentences and regardless of the outcome I am pleased that she holds the same views as myself and so many other law-abiding citizens of this country.
'Today after so much waiting we have finally been given the outcome of these long-awaited decisions regarding these three men, their futures and whether or not justice will ultimately be served.
'Of course, no punishment, no time in prison will ever serve to make up for the theft of someone's life, and not just someone, but an incredible person who gave without greed or expectation to his fellow man, and I will be eternally proud to call Andrew my husband.
'I miss him more as each day passes and I will continue to live my life in his honour, with respect, love and an unbreakable moral code.
'I am of course disappointed with this outcome and ultimately feel along with the Attorney General and the majority of our country that these sentences are far too lenient, that they do not reflect the severity and barbarity of the crimes they committed.
'I continue to feel let down by our justice system and the inadequate laws that we have in place.'
The decision by the Appeal Court today was also met with outrage by Shadow Home Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds, who tweeted: 'This is disappointing news for the family & friends of PC Andrew Harper, especially for his wife Lissie.
'Whilst, of course, the court's judgement must be respected, it shows why Lissie's campaign is so important and why we're committed to working with Lissie & the Police Federation on this.'
At a hearing in November, Attorney General Suella Braverman (pictured above) said the youths' sentences should be increased
Shadow Home Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds described the ruling as 'disappointing', writing: 'It shows why Lissie's campaign is so important'
British Transport Police in Nottinghamshire posted: 'We @BTPNotts are devastated that offenders guilty for killing PC Harper will not have their sentences increased'
The BTP in Nottinghamshire also posted: 'We @BTPNotts are devastated that offenders guilty for killing PC Harper will not have their sentences increased.
'We commend Lissie and Andrew's parents for their continued efforts involved in #AndrewsLaw and #HarpersLaw'.
PC Harper's widow previously called for tougher sentences for her husband's teenage killers and said that 'the whole country stands with her' in a speech outside the High Court in November.
Lissie's statement continued: 'My husband was killed in a barbaric way that has seen the nation shocked. This single act has rocked the lives of so many people who both loved Andrew and those who have watched from afar the heart-breaking story of his death.
'To take someone's life surely should mean to have your own freedom taken in return. Yet these criminals will see the light of day far, far earlier than they ever deserve to.
'I remain more determined than ever to do what is right and to ensure we see what should have been in place so long ago. I know now more than ever the importance and requirement for Harper's Law, which would see those who kill our emergency services heroes receive a life jail sentence.
Albert Bowers, left, and Jessie Cole, middle, both 18, were seen laughing as they were handed 13-year sentences at the Old Bailey on July 31
Long (pictured in September 2019) - the leader of the group - admitted manslaughter, while passengers Cole and Bowers were convicted of manslaughter after a trial at the Old Bailey
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