Southwell appealing 39-year prison sentence

Convicted paedophile Graham Southwell is asking the Courts to reduce his 39-year prison sentence. In October 2024 a jury found the former GHA and St John Ambulance volunteer guilty of 19 counts of child abuse dating as far back to the 90s. 

Documents obtained by GBC show the appeal is on the basis that he believes the sentence is ‘manifestly excessive’ and was improperly calculated by the Chief Justice, Anthony Dudley.

Known as Gibraltar’s most prolific paedophile, Graham Southwell was handed the 39-year prison term at the Supreme Court in January.

The previous year, a jury had found the former GHA and St John Ambulance volunteer guilty of 19 counts of child abuse dating back to the 90s. 

Victim impact statements were read to the court describing the trauma and devastation Southwell had inflicted.

The Chief Justice Anthony Dudley said there were five distinct voices, of each victim, and his sentencing reflected this.

The total prison time was 39 years, with not less than half to be served before parole can be requested. By this time Southwell would be 82 years old and the judge felt he would no longer pose a risk to the public.

In the Grounds for Appeal document seen by GBC, it says the Chief Justice's decision to issue 24 years in custody for a single charge was excessive and did not follow the usual guidelines. 

The appeal also argues the ‘totality principle’ was applied incorrectly. This principle says that when a person is being sentenced for more than one crime, the overall punishment must be fair and not too harsh. In Southwell’s case, the judge issued difference prison terms for the each of the 19 counts, with five to be served consecutively.

The appeal continues by saying it “may have been more appropriate to deal with the entirety of the sentence with issuing one life sentence instead of several consecutive and concurrent sentences”.

The document also says that while  “the Judge acknowledged the appellant’s serious vascular condition, which may result in loss of limb, and his advanced age, yet these factors were not sufficiently reflected” when it came to mitigation. 

The statement, filed by Hassans lawyers Shane Danino and Sean Gaskin, says age and health are relevant factors, particularly when “the sentence imposed may effectively result in the offender spending the remainder of their life in custody”.

The Court of Appeal will consider the arguments made by Southwell's lawyers and review the Chief Justice's original decision in late September.

Southwell is not appealing the conviction. He is set to remain in prison for a long time yet.

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The Royal Gibraltar Police urges sexual abuse victims to not suffer in silence. 

You can contact their specialist team directly on 200 48042 or file a report online. 

You can also contact Childline by calling 8008 or via Whatsapp. 

Or Teenline on 8009 or via WhatsApp on 58009513.