The Crown Office will appeal an 'unduly lenient' sentence handed down to Sean Hogg, who was convicted of rape earlier last month.
The 21-year-old was convicted in March and on April 3 was sentenced to 270 hours of community service, as well as being put under supervision for three years and added to the sex offenders' register.
That was met with an immediate backlash, with campaigners questioning why a convicted rapist was allowed to walk free from court.
On Friday it was announced that the Crown Office has taken the unusual step of appealing against the sentence, which it judged 'unduly lenient'.
Read More: Sean Hogg: Victim raped at 13 speaks out after attacker spared jail
Deputy Crown Agent for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service Kenny Donnelly said: “Sentence is quite rightly the domain of the independent judiciary. However, the law provides for some limited circumstances in which prosecutors have the right to appeal against sentences.
“The Appeal Court has set a high test to be satisfied for this to happen. The sentence must be unduly lenient, which means that it must be outwith the range of sentences which the sentencing Judge, taking account of all relevant factors, could reasonably have imposed.
"The question of Crown appeal against sentence in this case has been carefully considered, and the decision to place this matter before the Appeal Court has been communicated to the complainer through her representative.”
The victim's solicitor, Aamer Anwar said: "This morning we were advised that the Lord Advocate has decided that the Crown should appeal the sentence imposed upon Sean Hogg convicted of rape, on the grounds that it is ‘unduly lenient’.
"My client is relieved and grateful to the Lord Advocate- it has been nearly a month since Sean Hogg walked free from the High Court ordered to carry out 270 hours of unpaid work, after being convicted of rape-
"My client still does not understand why Hogg was allowed to get on with his life when he had ruined her, she wonders how many girls will think there is no point in reporting rape after seeing a rapist walk free;
"Whilst the police, prosecution and jury did its job, she feels that in the end she was failed by our justice system, but today once more she has some hope that justice will be done.”
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