§ Ms PrimaroloTo ask the Attorney-General when representations were received alleging leniency in the sentence passed against Colin Cockram following his conviction in Bristol crown court for wounding Mr. Barry Warne; and by whom, and on what date, a decision to refer the matter to the Court of Appeal was first made public. [31133]
§ The Attorney-GeneralOn 10 March 1995, following his conviction for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, Colin Cockram was sentenced to perform 80 hours community service. The Crown Prosecution Service, after taking the advice of trial counsel, decided to forward the papers to me so that I could consider applying for leave to refer the sentence to the Court of Appeal for reconsideration. The papers were received in this Department from the Crown Prosecution Service on 30 March. Treasury Counsel's advice was received on 3 April.
The victim, Mr. Warne, wrote to the Home Secretary on 13 March, complaining about the sentence. The Home Office replied on 30 March and sent a copy of the correspondence to this Department, drawing the sentence to my attention. The correspondence was received here on 31 March. Both the Solicitor-General and I considered the papers and on 6 April, in my absence abroad, the Solicitor-General signed the reference applying for leave to refer the case to the Court of Appeal.
On the same day, officials from my Department lodged the reference with the criminal appeals office and notified the Crown Prosecution Service and the solicitors acting for Mr. Cockram of the Solicitor-General's decision. On the same day, an official of my Department attempted to speak to Mr. Warne at his place of work and a message was left. Mr. Warne later returned the call and was told of the decision. He was also later written to.
606WBy a letter dated 31 May, which arrived at this Department on 7 June, the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Ms Primarolo) wrote to me enclosing a copy of the Home Office reply to Mr. Warne's original letter of 13 March. The Solicitor-General replied to her on 9 June.
I understand that the Bristol branch of the Crown Prosecution Service received written representations from the local police on the 24 March, after the decision to refer the papers to Crown Prosecution Service headquarters had already been made, and that one other item of correspondence has also been received by another Government Department and is in the process of being transferred to my office.