Anthony Plaskett was given a five-year prison term in January 2024, which prosecutors argued was unduly lenient.

The Crown Office asked the court to consider imposing a longer custodial term due to the overall seriousness of the offending involved.

Lord Justice Clerk Lady Dorrian upheld the Crown’s appeal and the original five-year prison term has been quashed and replaced with an eight-year sentence.

Kenny Donnelly, deputy crown agent, said: “Unduly lenient sentence appeals are not common but are important to ensure the public interest is properly served by asking the court to examine again sentences which appear to the Crown to fall outside of the range of punishment reasonably considered appropriate.

“The Crown believes that it is important that the harm caused by sexual offending, and the culpability of the convicted person, is consistently reflected in sentencing decisions. The Crown has a responsibility in legislation to consider undue leniency in sentencing and we note the decision of the Appeals Court.

“COPFS remains committed to improving the criminal justice journey for victims from the stage of reporting all the way through to sentencing.We recognise the devastating impact sexual offences can have on all those affected and will always seek to ensure the effective, rigorous, and fair prosecution of sexual crime.”