A North Yorkshire man convicted of rape and non-fatal strangulation has had his prison sentence increased at the Court of Appeal.

Craig Welsh was jailed for seven years in June but lawyers for the solicitor general on Friday (September 20) challenged the sentence as being “unduly lenient”.

The 37-year-old, previously of High Street, Eastfield, was described by police as a “danger to women”.

His victim was left suffering physically, emotionally and mentally, felt “scared” and was in “constant survival mode”, judges were told.

As The Press reported, Welsh denied the offences which took place in 2023 but was convicted by jurors after a trial at York Crown Court.

Lord Justice Dingemans, who considered the case at the Court of Appeal alongside Mrs Justice Thornton and Mr Justice Linden, concluded that his total sentence should be increased to eight years and nine months.

Ben Holt, representing the solicitor general, told the hearing in London that the judge who sentenced Welsh had fallen into “gross error” when calculating his jail term.

The barrister said the judge had taken an “inappropriate” approach when determining the sentence for the rape offence and had “erred” by reducing the sentence to reflect prison conditions.

“When one looks at the entirety of the sentencing process there was reduction made at every stage of it,” Mr Holt said.

“When one looks at the entirety of the reductions, that is when the sentence can be regarded as not just lenient, but unduly lenient.”

Nicholas Hammond, for Welsh, said the seven-year sentence was “not unduly lenient”, telling judges that mitigating features in his case included “the lack of relevant previous convictions” and his “mental health conditions”.

Lord Justice Dingemans said the sentencing judge had taken the “wrong” approach, ruling that Welsh’s overall sentence should be increased.

Welsh's denials 'subjected his already traumatised victim to the ordeal of a court trial', says detective

Detective Constable Tracey Brewster, of North Yorkshire Police, said, after Welsh’s sentencing in June, that his denials had “subjected his already traumatised victim to the ordeal of a court trial”.

“She has shown courage and strength in reporting the crimes and providing the evidence to help secure justice,” she added.

“Welsh is a danger to women and is now rightfully serving a prison sentence for what he has done.

“While the lasting affects of the ordeal are traumatic and life-changing for the victim, I hope she can draw some strength from the outcome at court.”