Neil Wilson was handed a suspended sentence at Snaresbrook Crown Court
Neil Wilson was handed a suspended sentence at Snaresbrook Crown Court

A paedophile whose 13-year-old victim was described as "predatory" in court has had his sentence increased, but still escaped jail.

Neil Wilson, was originally given an eight-month jail term, suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to sexual activity with a child at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

Wilson has appeared in court again to have his sentence increased to 12 months' imprisonment, suspended, for possessing indecent images of children.

The 41-year-old was convicted of possessing indecent images as well as sexual activity with a child, but this was not factored into his original sentence due to an oversight described in court as a "technical error".

The case received widespread attention after it emerged prosecutor Robert Colover described the girl as "predatory in all her actions" and "sexually experienced".

During the original sentencing, judge Nigel Peters also told Wilson that he had "come as close to prison as is imaginable" but took into account that the 13-year-old looked and behaved older than she was and "was predatory and egging you on".

However the increase in Wilson's tariff has nothing to do with the comments made during his original trial.

Announcing the increased sentence, Judge Peters made no reference to the "sexual predator" comments, but said: "I have had the matter listed before me today as part of the sentence, not that part relating to sexual activity with a child, requires correcting.

"It was not appreciated by the parties that I could not pass a community order with a supervision requirement for three years to run alongside a suspended sentence on the same indictment or indeed another indictment sentenced on the same occasion.

"In amending the sentence I have sought to ensure that all parts of the order will be complied with by the defendant and that any breach will be brought before a court and consideration given to further penalty, including immediate imprisonment."

However Wilson could still have his sentence increased further, as attorney general Dominic Grieve has promised to examine whether the sentence was "unduly lenient".

Sexual predator row

Both the prosecutor and judge in the original case are facing investigations after they described the 13-year-old girl as predatory.

Colover will no longer work on cases involving sexual abuse, and investigators are also inquiring as to whether his comments violated the Bar Standards Board's code of conduct.

Peters is also being investigated by the Office for Judicial Complaints over some of his comments.

Prime Minister David Cameron and the Crown Prosecution Service were among those to condemn the comments made by the pair.

Alison Worsley, of children's charity Barnardo's, said: "It is plain wrong to imply in any way that the experiences of sexually exploited children are something they bring on themselves.

"It is difficult to imagine the torment experienced by the vulnerable victims of crimes such as these."