A convicted paedophile had his sentence increased to 14 years this morning after Court of Appeal judges decided the original sentence was too low.

At a Supreme Court hearing last year, Melvin Martin, 25, pleaded guilty to three counts of sexually exploiting a minor, one count of unlawful carnal knowledge, three counts of accessing child pornography, and four counts of making child pornography.

He was the first person to be jailed since new legislation regarding accessing and making child pornography came in to force last May.

The Department of Public Prosecutions had launched the appeal saying the original sentence of eight-and-a-half years was too short. Today the Appeal judges increased it to 14 years.

President of the Court of Appeal Edward Zacca said the reasons for the decision would be put into writing at a later date.

* See tomorrow’s edition for full story.