The Government has hit back after a judge slammed a legal loophole which allowed a convicted paedophile to be spared a six-year jail term.
Judge Norman Wright spoke out after he was only allowed to sentence pervert Andrew Galeney to 32 months behind bars because he pleaded guilty.
Judge Wright said he wanted to jail him for six years but, because Galeney pleaded guilty, he automatically had a third of his sentence cut.
Galeney has already served 259 days in custody – and could be out in less than a year.
Galeney, 45, from Beacon Lodge, Ribbleton, pleaded guilty to 24 counts relating to distributing, making and possession of images of children.
In a statement, the Ministry of Justice said: "We do not comment on individual cases.
"Protecting the public from sexual offenders is fundamental, that's why prison sentences and sex offender prevention orders, which if breached mean offenders go back to jail, are available to sentencers.
"Passing sentence is a matter for the judiciary, but it is long established practice for sentencers to take into account the fact that defendants who plead guilty at an early stage save the expense of a full trial and more importantly save the victim from the additional distress of giving evidence in court."
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