Key Points
- Nine men convicted for abusing a girl in Blackrod, Bolton, have had their sentences referred to the Court of Appeal on grounds of being "unduly lenient," as reported by multiple media outlets.
- Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP intervened to request a review, citing the sentences were not proportionate to the severity of the crimes.
- The men were jailed in April 2025 after being found guilty of grooming, raping, and sexually assaulting girls under 16 between 2016 and 2018.
- The offences took place predominantly at a so-called "party house" in Blackrod where the men supplied alcohol and drugs to victims.
- Ashley Darbyshire, identified as the ringleader, received a 15-year jail sentence and placement on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.
- Victims gave harrowing statements about the abuse and its ongoing mental health impact.
- The Attorney General's Office may refer sentences for review if considered “unduly lenient” under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme.
- If the Court of Appeal finds the sentences too short, they have the power to increase them.
- The men were convicted on over 30 charges ranging from rape to sexual activity with a child under 16; one man received a suspended sentence.
- Greater Manchester Police and the Crown Prosecution Service praised victims’ bravery in coming forward, noting that sentences cannot undo the harm but may deliver solace.
In a case that has shaken the community of Blackrod, Bolton, nine men convicted of sexual offences against girls as young as 13 are facing a pivotal legal review—The Solicitor General argues their original sentences were 'unduly lenient' and is asking the Court of Appeal to increase them.
Why Is The Court of Appeal Reviewing The Sentences Given To The Blackrod Grooming Gang?
As reported by ITV News and corroborated by Yahoo News UK and the Evening Standard, Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP has formally referred the prison terms of nine Blackrod gang members to the Court of Appeal. The Solicitor General's office argues that the punishments handed down—ranging up to 17 years—do not adequately reflect the gravity of the crimes, with a formal review requested on grounds of 'unduly lenient' sentencing.
According to the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme, cases involving rape and serious sexual assault can be challenged if perceived as insufficiently punitive, with referrals made by the Attorney General’s Office. The Court of Appeal can ultimately impose higher sentences if it agrees.
Lucy Rigby KC MP stated via the Attorney General’s Office:
“It is essential for victims' confidence and for public protection that particularly serious criminality receives a sentence which meets the seriousness of the offending.”
What Did The Nine Men Do And What Was The Impact On Their Victims?
The men were said to have groomed, abused, and raped girls—some as young as 13—over a two-year period between 2016 and 2018. Many of the criminal acts occurred at a 'party house' in Blackrod, a venue described by the BBC and Greater Manchester Police (GMP) as a setting where alcohol and drugs were routinely supplied to minors, and where predatory behaviour was common.
Prosecutor Ben Lawrence informed the jury (as reported by BBC News) that
“[the girl] was supplied with alcohol, cannabis, and cocaine to diminish any resistance,”
and that the defendants
“were indifferent to whether she consented to sex or not”.
One brave victim, whose identity is protected, shared a harrowing testimony through GMP, describing her life as “haunted” by the continuous abuse:
As reported by Greater Manchester Police News, the victim said:
“I suffered every form of abuse from each of these individuals, and they continue to haunt me every day [...] I’d rather be dead most days than deal with all this mental torture and memories.”
Who Are the Nine Men and What Sentences Did They Originally Receive?
According to court records and media coverage from BBC, GMP, and CPS, the sentenced men are:
- Ashley Darbyshire (15 years, sex offenders’ register for life)
- Cory Barrett
- Jack Poulson (17 years; two thirds to be served in custody)
- Brandon Harwood
- Richard Haslam
- Elliot Turner
- James Fitzgerald
- Ross Corley
- Daniel Flatters
They were convicted of over 30 offences, including rape, sexual activity with a child under 16, and causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent. While most received long custodial sentences, one received a suspended term with 100 hours of unpaid work and placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for 10 years.
How Did The Court And Police Respond To The Scale Of Abuse?
Chief reporting from Greater Manchester Police and CPS emphasised the unprecedented scale and cruelty of the offending. Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Samantha Parry from Bolton CID praised the victims’ courage, saying:
“I am glad that this group of abhorrent individuals have been handed substantial sentences and are off the streets of Bolton and where they belong, behind bars. I want to thank the victim-survivors that all came forward and put their trust in us to disclose the awful things that were done to them by these predatory men while they were trying to go about their lives as normal teenage girls should be able to do.”
Statements from the Crown Prosecution Service North West similarly commended the integrity and resilience shown by witnesses, noting the extreme reluctance of victims to trust authorities after their ordeal.
What Happens Next And What Precedents Does This Case Set?
If the Court of Appeal, after reviewing evidence and sentences, finds the original penalties unduly lenient, it can order longer prison terms for the convicted men—a process seen increasingly for violent and sexual crimes in the UK this year. Data from the Attorney General’s Office showed 33 sentences increased in the first three months of 2025 for similar crimes.
The case is also likely to fuel continued discussion about the effectiveness and severity of sentences for sexual predators, as well as protections for vulnerable girls across the UK.
What Has Been The Community And National Reaction?
The case has generated widespread revulsion and calls for tougher sentencing nationwide, according to coverage by ITV Granada, the BBC, and Yahoo News UK. Advocacy groups highlighted the enduring trauma faced by victims and renewed calls for greater vigilance and mandatory reporting in cases of suspected child sexual exploitation.