Protestors walk to the streets of Croydon, campaigning for Sullivan's sentence to be increased (Photopress)

THE Attorney General has agreed to refer the case of child sex attacker Paul Sullivan to the Court of Appeal following public outrage over his 10-year jail sentence.

The Crown Prosecution Service agreed with police and campaigning mums that the sentence given to Sullivan, a pet shop owner from Catford who molested six young schoolboys in remote woodland, was "unduly lenient."

The CPS made a formal application to the Attorney General and last week he gave his consent to refer the case to the Court of Appeal.

Dozens of mums took to the streets of Croydon on Sunday waving banners to highlight their disgust at the "rough justice" dealt out to Sullivan's victims.

Sullivan, 44, of Sandhurst Road, Catford, was convicted at the Old Bailey last month of six counts of abducting a child, six of indecent assault, six of indecency with a child and one attempted serious sexual assault.

He had denied a series of attacks on children walking to and from school across Riddlesdown Common, near Croydon, but was convicted after DNA testing proved beyond doubt he was responsible.

Det Insp Graham Worthington, who co-ordinated the four-year police operation which finally caught Sullivan, said: "I do not want to be seen to be criticising the trial judge but I am pleased our request to appeal was taken on board."

Riddlesdown High School also welcomed the news. Chairman of governors Alan Carter said he was "highly delighted" progress was being made.

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