A Bradford MP campaigning for tougher sentencing for paedophiles will meet Home Secretary Jack Straw to discuss the issue.

Terry Rooney has arranged the meeting after taking up Bradford cases where convicted child abusers received lenient jail terms.

And the Bradford North MP will present cuttings from Telegraph & Argus stories, highlighting the problem to Mr Straw.

On Wednesday he will draw two issues to the Home Secretary's attention, the problem of lenient sentences and of inconsistent sentencing.

"We have seen this inconsistency in Bradford, with one paedophile getting two years' probation because he was in a wheelchair and another getting 16 years in prison," said Mr Rooney.

"I believe this damages public confidence in the criminal justice system."

The cases he will feature in his dossier include the sentencing of Terence Bolton, who abused three Bradford boys and admitted five charges, but was jailed for just three-and-a-half years, despite having previous similar convictions.

At the time, earlier this year, the Crown Prosecution Service said it would appeal for a tougher sentence. But CPS lawyers later decided the sentence was not unduly lenient and did not to take it to appeal, something Mr Rooney described as "scandalous."

He pledged to take up the case on behalf of the families of the three boys, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

"I want to ask Mr Straw whether we can have some firmer guidelines on sentencing. I don't know whether he would be able to change legislation for minimum sentences," said Mr Rooney.

"I have had a lot of letters arising out of the publicity and only one took the opposite view. When I go to meetings people say to keep up the good work."

Mr Rooney said it was significant that Mr Straw himself, rather than a junior minister, was meeting him to discuss the issue. As well as the seriousness of the subject, Mr Straw had taken a personal interest in the Ravenscliffe area since visiting the estate.

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