A MOTHER is distraught that the man who sexually abused her five-year-old daughter could walk free after serving less than a third of his sentence

John Donald, 58, of Sidney Road, Borstal, near Rochester, was jailed for two and a half years for sex offences by a judge at Maidstone Crown Court last May. But he is to challenge his sentence at the Appeal Court on February 14, just nine months after he was jailed.

The 35-year-old mother-of-two from Gillingham, cannot be named for fear of identifying her daughter, who is now seven, and another victim. She said: "I'm fuming. It's not right and should not be allowed.

How can he appeal saying his sentence is too severe.

"Nothing is too severe for him. He deserves everything he was given for taking away my daughter's innocence. He's scarred her for life. My daughter has to live with what he did for the rest of her life and he thinks he just deserves to walk free."

Donald was jailed for an indecent assault on the five-year-old in 2000 and for an indecent assault and a second offence of child indecency against the other girl, committed more than 16 years ago when the victim was under 13.

Whenever Donald is released he must register with his local police station giving details of his name and address, a requirement that will last 10 years.