Mr HN

Mr HN was convicted on 2 July 2021 at Leicester Crown Court of 18 counts of child sexual abuse. He received an extended sentence of 22 years’ imprisonment, comprising a custodial term of 18 years and an extended licence period of four years.  

The alleged abuse occurred when the complainant was between the ages of 11 and 18. At trial, the prosecution relied predominantly on the evidence of the complainant, as well as evidence of complaint from family members. Mr HN gave evidence in his defence and denied that any sexual abuse had ever taken place.  

An application for leave to appeal was refused by the Single Judge in December 2021 and a renewed application to the Full Court was rejected in February 2022. Mr HN applied to the CCRC in September 2022. 

Following a thorough review, the CCRC decided to refer four of Mr HN’s 18 convictions to the Court of Appeal. These comprised two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 and two counts of rape of a child under 13. 

The convictions were referred on the grounds that there was insufficient evidence that the complainant was under the age of 13 at the relevant time and that the jury were not properly directed in respect of two counts of sexual assault. 

There was therefore a real possibility that these convictions would not be upheld by the Court of Appeal. 

The CCRC referred the convictions in November 2025.