Attorney General Steps In to Secure Harsher Sentence for Man Convicted of Raping Two Girls

Liam Ross, a resident of Dartford, Kent, has had his prison sentence extended by three years, resulting in a total of 15 years’ imprisonment along with a one-year licence extension. This decision follows a referral of his case to the Court of Appeal by Attorney General Ellie Reeves KC MP, under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

Details of the Offences

The Court was informed that Ross, who was 29 years old during the time of the offences, initiated contact with a 16-year-old victim through social media. He pursued a sexual relationship with her, meeting on several occasions, during which he would provide her with money.

Despite having received a warning from the police about the implications of his behaviour following a prior incident, Ross remained undeterred, ultimately leading to further criminal actions. In April 2025, he raped the victim while she was unconscious due to alcohol consumption.

In another incident in May 2025, Ross supplied both the 16-year-old and a 12-year-old girl with alcohol. He then proceeded to engage in sexual activity with both victims, committing rape against the younger girl and recording the acts. Following this, he again offered them money.

Upon Ross’s arrest, authorities discovered indecent images of children as well as video evidence of some of the offences committed in May 2025 on his mobile phone.

Impact on Victims

A victim personal statement from the mother of one of the affected girls revealed the lasting impact of the abuse, stating that her daughter now feels unsafe in her daily life and suffers from severe anxiety and depression.

Attorney General Ellie Reeves KC MP commented on the case, stating, “Liam Ross is a sexual predator who exploited and raped two young girls. I welcome the court’s decision to increase his sentence following my referral.” She expressed her thoughts for the victims, acknowledging their bravery in coming forward. Reeves emphasised that violence against women and girls is a significant national issue, pledging to prioritise measures that ensure sentences reflect the seriousness of such crimes.

Sentencing Details

On 2 March 2026, Ross was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court to 12 years’ imprisonment with an additional one-year licence extension for a series of charges. These included one count of rape of a child under 13, one count of assault of a child under 13 by penetration, one count of paying for sexual services of a child, one count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, one count of causing or inciting sexual exploitation of a child, one count of rape, one count of sexual assault, two counts of taking indecent photographs of a child, and three counts of making indecent photographs of a child.

On 3 September 2026, the Court of Appeal upheld the Attorney General’s referral, resulting in an increase of Ross’s sentence to 15 years.