A former Sark resident has been given permission to challenge a prison sentence he received earlier this year for multiple child sexual offences.
Benjamin Solowan pleaded guilty to 12 counts of sexual offences involving children, including the intended sexual activity rape of a child under 13, after he was arrested in Sark on 16 December 2024.
The 40-year-old was also found to have indecent images of children and there was evidence of him attempting to meet individuals he believed were minors – including booking flights to meet an individual he had been talking to online who claimed to be a 14-year-old girl.
Solowan was jailed for 12 years by Guernsey’s Royal Court in June.
But the former Sark resident was this month “granted leave to appeal” by the Bailiff of Guernsey Sir Richard McMahon, meaning Solowan has formal permission to challenge his 12-year prison sentence.
The court agreed there was a legitimate argument that his sentence of 10 years for the first six counts he faced was “excessive”.
According to legal resources, the decision was based on Solowan’s defence advocate arguing that a discount for a guilty plea was not given.
Advocate Oliver Fattorini also argued that there was a discrepancy between the individual sentences given.
The advocate questioned why the discount from the starting sentence of 12 years was only two years.
He stated that the reduction seemed low when compared to the one-third discount Solowan received for other counts relating to indecent images, as well as to other similar legal cases.
Sir Richard responded: ”In the absence of an explanation in the sentencing remarks as to why a lower discount for the combined mitigation of just one-sixth was applied to Counts 1 to 6, I am persuaded that I should grant leave to appeal the sentences of 10 years’ imprisonment imposed on the Applicant in respect of those Counts, principally on the basis of what is set out in ground 1(b).”
Solowan was granted leave to appeal earlier this month, but it is yet to be announced when his hearing will take place.
Solowan’s current prison sentence runs until 16 December 2036. He will be released on licence once he has served his prison sentence.