Prison sentence for killer dad will not be increased

A FATHER who murdered his teenage daughter by stabbing her in the heart during a play-fight will not have his sentence increased, judges have ruled.

- By CALLUM PARKE

Simon Vickers was jailed for life with a minimum term of 15 years in February for the murder of his 14-year-old daughter Scarlett Vickers, at their home in Darlington on July 5 last year.

The Solicitor General sought to refer the 50-year-old’s sentence to the Court of Appeal, with their lawyers arguing at a hearing yesterday that it was “unduly lenient” and should be increased as it “failed to adequately reflect the overall seriousness of the offending”.

Barristers for Vickers opposed the bid, arguing the sentence should remain the same. In a ruling, three senior judges ruled that Vickers’ sentence was not “unduly lenient” and should not be increased, stating it is “properly to be described as merciful, but it is none the worse for that”.

Lord Justice Stuart-Smith, sitting with Mr Justice Goose and Mrs Justice Eady, said: “This was a justifiable and humane resolution of a very difficult sentencing exercise.”