A Hayes man who sexually abused a child and threatened she would never see her mother again has seen his sentence increased by five years, the Court of Appeal ruled(October 20).

The sentence of Robert Lee, who was convicted of indecent assault, has gone from nine to 14 years imprisonment after the original sentence was seen as "unduly lenient".

Lee was sentenced on July 16 at Isleworth Crown Court for three offences of indecent assault.

Speaking after today’s hearing, solicitor Buckland QC MP said: “Robert Lee committed a series of indecent assaults upon his young victim between May 1999 and December 2003.

"Lee would sexually abuse the child on a regular basis and threaten that she would never see her mother again if she did not do as he asked.

"He would also scare his victim by telling her that she would go to prison."

The solicitor added: "In interview, Lee denied any sexual abuse and said that the victim’s allegations were rubbish and lies.

"I hope that today’s increased sentence will encourage all victims of sexual abuse to come forward in the knowledge that they will be believed and their offenders given appropriate sentences.”