A BRADFORD rapist will now spend 13 years in jail after his original eight year prison sentence was ruled “unduly lenient” by the Court of Appeal.

Lee Duffy, 26, was convicted after a trial at Bradford Crown Court of violent attacks on three women over a period of three years.

The jury found him guilty in June of four charges of rape, one of attempted rape and three counts of causing actual bodily harm, when he was aged between 19 and 22.

Duffy, of Bierley Lane, Bierley, wept as he was jailed for eight years by Judge Colin Burn.

The judge told Duffy at the sentencing hearing in July: “You had no perspective what the difference was between what might be called persuasion and coercion.”

Duffy’s sexual drive meant he was “not prepared to accept no for an answer”.

“You could not differentiate between consent and lack of consent,” Judge Burn said.

Duffy continued to deny the offences in the face of the jury’s verdicts. But his barrister, Rebecca Young, said he was willing to undertake courses while in prison to make sure he did not commit further offences. Duffy was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order.

After Duffy was jailed, Solicitor General Robert Buckland QC MP referred the sentence to the Court of Appeal in London as unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal has now quashed the eight year sentence and ruled that Duffy must serve 13 years.

Speaking after the hearing, the Solicitor General said: “These crimes deserved a tougher punishment and I am pleased the court has seen fit to increase the prison term. This demonstrates our commitment to victims of sexual offences that they will be taken seriously.

“I hope the increased sentence brings some closure to the victims, and they can begin to move on from what will have been a traumatic time.”

Speaking after the original sentencing in Bradford, Detective Constable Kam Nagra, of West Yorkshire Police Protective Services Crime, said: “I would like to praise the victims’ bravery and courage.”