A CWMBRAN paedophile, who was described as “highly manipulative”, has had his sentence extended by five years by the Court of Appeal in London.

Michael David McCauley was sentenced to 15 years in January at Cardiff Crown Court after he was found guilty after a trial for charges of rape and sexual assault of children under 13.

The 41-year-old denied abusing young girls as young as six but has now received a sentence of 20 years in prison, increased by the panel of three judges.

Lord Justice Treacy, sitting alongside Mr Justice Green and Mr Justice Picken, ruled the 15-year term he had been given was too soft for the serious catalogue of offending, labelling it as "unduly lenient".

"The result of the offending, certainly in the first girl's case, amounts to serious psychological harm," he said.

"What took place was planned and involved grooming."

The court heard McCauley, of Postern, in Fairwater, had been found guilty of six rapes and seven sexual assaults.

He also admitted having child pornography, which police found stored on his computer and mobile phone.

He had discussed paedophilia with others online and visited child porn sites, the court heard.

"The offender's attitude was one of denial," said the judge.

McCauley’s case was back before judges at the Court of Appeal after a reference by solicitor general, Robert Buckland QC.

Lawyers representing Mr Buckland argued that the crown court judge had been too soft on McCauley.

Giving judgment, Lord Justice Treacy said 15 years was an "inadequate reflection of the totality of this offending".

"We are satisfied that the overall sentence passed was unduly lenient," he added.

"In our judgment, the least term which should have been imposed on this offender was one of 20 years' custody on the rape counts."

At the sentencing in January, judge Jeremy Jenkins said McCauley had subjected his victims to “a prolonged and systematic course of sexual abuse”.

The judge added his actions would live with his young victims for the rest of their lives, and believed that McCauley posed a high risk of serious sexual harm to children.

Mr Jenkins said that McCauley had only latterly shown remorseful for this actions: “You had no empathy for your victims. You are a dangerous offender.”

A spokesman for the NSPCC Cymru/Wales said: “McCauley’s horrific offending will have caused a great deal of harm and suffering to his young victims and he is clearly a danger to children.

“It is right that he will serve substantial jail term to protect others.

“We hope McCauley’s victims are now receiving help and support to recover from the abuse they suffered at his hands.”