Former Pc convicted over sex assaults and misconduct has jail term cut

A former police constable given a total jail term of five years after being convicted of sex assaults and misconduct in a public office has seen his sentence cut by appeal judges.

Three appeal judges concluded that Adnan Ali’s total sentence should be reduced to three years.

Ali, 37, who entered not guilty pleas, had been convicted of five counts of sex assault and 15 counts of misconduct in public office after a trial at Liverpool Crown Court earlier this year.

Judge Dennis Watson handed him jail sentences of between two and three years for each sex assault, and five years for each misconduct offence.

The trial judge had said all sentences would run concurrently – making a total of five years.

Jurors heard that Ali had been serving with Greater Manchester Police when the offences were committed.

They heard that he had sexually assaulted three victims, aged between 15 and 18, and sent sexual messages while working on the Greater Manchester Police cadet scheme and apprenticeship programme.

Prosecutors told how Ali had worked as a volunteer “police cadet leader” and a “student officer development and assessment coordinator”.

Lawyers representing Ali had argued, at a recent Court of Appeal hearing in London, that the total five-year term was “manifestly excessive”.

Appeal judges Dame Victoria Sharp, Mr Justice Bennathan and Judge Guy Kearl decided that the five-year misconduct terms were “too long” and should be reduced to three years.

They said his total sentence would therefore be three years.

Ali had also appealed against his conviction – but the three judges dismissed that challenge.