Bid to extend jail sentences for Harley Brown's killers

Zak Robinson, 17, and a 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were jailed in December for murdering 17-year-old Harley Brown in Huddersfield.

Robinson received a minimum term of 14 years and six months. The 15-year-old will spend at least 10 years and three months behind bars.

Now, the Attorney General's Office has confirmed it has received a request to refer the sentences to the Court of Appeal under the unduly lenient scheme.

A statement issued this week said: "We have received a request to consider the sentences of Zak Robinson and a second individual.

"Officers have 28 days from sentencing to consider the case and make a decision."

Zak Robinson (Image: West Yorkshire Police)

The attack has been branded as a tragic example of the dreadful consequences of knife crime by senior detectives.

Leeds Crown Court heard that Harley had met the defendants by chance in the doorway of a 24-hour shop on Colne Street at around 3.40am on February 20 last year.

The teenagers chased him to Maple Street where he was attacked with bladed weapons.

Harley was able to stagger to Kings Mill Lane after the attack where he was found by emergency services having suffered multiple stab injuries.

He was taken to hospital for emergency medical treatment but tragically died from his injuries later that morning.

Shocking death toll of knife crime

The Telegraph & Argus reported earlier this week how the Government acknowledged "more needs to be done" to tackle knife crime - after a string of fatal stabbings in the region last year.

According to BBC research, knife attacks accounted for 27 of the 54 homicide investigations made public in Yorkshire last year.

A Government spokesperson said: "Knife crime tears families apart - and we know more needs to be done.

"Though hospital admissions for assault by a sharp object have fallen by 25 per cent across England and Wales, we remain committed to further intervention measures.

"Through our Criminal Justice Bill, police will be given new powers to seize, retain and destroy knives found on private properties that are likely to be connected with unlawful violence.

"We are also banning zombie-style knives and more knife-carrying criminals are being given tougher sentences."

Chief Inspector James Kitchen, of West Yorkshire Police, said: "A huge amount of work remains ongoing in West Yorkshire to reduce knife crime and particularly knife offences involving young people."