Legal News

A Wolverhampton man has had his sentence for robbery increased by four-and-a-half years, after the Attorney General referred the original sentence to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme.

Colin Raymond Cooke, 62, conspired with his son, Paul Cooke, to commit a robbery that resulted in the victim’s murder.

In May at Wolverhampton Crown Court, Colin Cooke was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment for the robbery offence, with 30 months’ imprisonment to be served concurrently, for helping his son to avoid the police after committing a murder.

Repeat offender Paul Cooke was released from prison in May 2015 – he visited his father later that day and the two plotted to rob the home of Colin Cooke’s friend, who they knew hid cash in his home.

The next evening, Paul Cooke entered the victim’s home and stabbed him to death, taking all the cash he and his accomplice could find.

The victim’s decomposing body was not found for a month after the murder. However, DNA underneath the victim’s fingernails linked the murder to Paul Cooke and an unknown male.

The court heard how Colin Cooke proceeded to dispose of his son’s phone in an effort to hide him from the police.

Attorney General Jeremy Wright QC MP argued that the original sentence given to Colin Cooke was unduly lenient – and the Court of Appeal increased his total sentence to 11 years and six months.

After the hearing, the Attorney General said:

“This was a well planned robbery, where an innocent person has lost their life.

“The offender has also shown no remorse in the death of his friend – I am pleased the Court of Appeal has increased the sentence.”

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