British-Ghanaian rapper, Solo 45, who held four women against their will and repeatedly raped them, has had his prison sentence increased.
The Grime star, whose is real name is Andy Anokye has been told he will serve an additional six years, the Court of Appeal ruled.
Anokye was convicted at Bristol Crown Court of 30 charges that spanned the course of two years.These were 21 rapes, five counts of false imprisonment, two counts of assault by penetration and two of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
He was given a 29-year extended sentence, made up of a 24-year jail term and an extended licence period of five years, in July last year.
Following a hearing on Friday, senior judges concluded the sentence was “unduly lenient” and increased it to 35 years – with a 30-year jail term and five years additional licence.
The judges said the original sentence did not reflect the fact he carried out multiple offences of rape against four separate victims.
His sentence was referred to the court by the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) under the unduly lenient sentencing scheme.
Solicitor General Michael Ellis QC said the decision to increase it “recognises the severity of the abuse” and “the danger he poses to the public”.
A bid by Anokye to appeal against the length of his original sentence was also rejected.
Anokye, who was signed to Island Records and had collaborated with Stormzy, JME and Wiley, was described as a ‘violent, controlling narcissist and a bully’ by prosecutors during the case.
Graphic video clips filmed by Anokye were played to the jury, in which the rapper was seen interrogating the women about previous sexual partners, slapping them, insulting them, and raping them.
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He claimed the acts were part of consensual role play.
Judge William Hart, passing sentence in 2020, said Anokye had “become addicted” to the “perverted pleasure” he took from abusing the women.
The judge said his career “was flourishing at the time” and he “would have gone to great heights”.
The judge added: “They are in no way tarnished by your misdeeds which you carried out in a private way.”
