Stevenage MP calls for review of former aide's sentence over indecent images
Conor McGrath, who admitted having more than five hundred illegal images on his devices
The MP for Stevenage is calling for a review of the sentence given to his former aide after he avoided jail for possessing indecent images of children.
Kevin Bonavia says he was surprised by the suspended sentence given to Conor McGrath, who admitted having more than five hundred illegal images on his devices.
McGrath, who was also a local councillor between 2023 and 2025, was handed an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and must follow a sexual harm prevention order for ten years.
Mr Bonavia expressed his surprise at the leniency of the punishment and confirmed he had requested the Attorney General’s Office to review the judge’s decision:
"I know the news of Conor McGrath's sentence has caused concern for many, including myself. Since I became aware of these appalling crimes, I have said that justice must be allowed to take its course in this case, as should happen in all such cases.
However, I have been surprised by the lenience of the sentence for these serious offences. I therefore looked into the actions I can take as our local MP to ask for the sentence to be reviewed.
I can confirm that I have submitted a request to the Attorney General’s Office for a review of the sentence so that it properly reflects just how serious and unacceptable Mr McGrath’s crimes were.
MPs do not decide sentences given in individual cases, but the unduly lenient sentences mechanism is open for requests for review by anyone who wishes to submit them. I hope that a review will go further to protect the victims of such damaging crimes.
Under the Unduly Lenient Sentences scheme, any individual can request a sentence review if deemed too lenient.