Frankie Smith has prison sentence increased

The mother of Star Hobson has had her prison term increased after the Attorney General, the Rt Hon Suella Braverman QC MP referred her original sentence to the Court of Appeal as unduly lenient.

Frankie Smith was convicted of causing or allowing the death of her 16-month-old daughter, Star Hobson. Star Hobson was murdered by Frankie Smith’s partner, Savannah Brockhill on 22 September 2020.

On 15 December 2021, Frankie Smith was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court to 8 years’ detention. At the same hearing, Savannah Brockhill was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 25 years for the murder of Star Hobson.

The Attorney General referred Frankie Smith’s sentence to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme. On 15 March the Court of Appeal found her original sentence to be unduly lenient and increased it to 12 years’ detention.

Speaking after the judgment, the Attorney General said:

This is a tragic and extremely upsetting case and my thoughts are with all those who loved Star Hobson. This case involved prolonged cruelty and neglect, deliberate disregard, and a failure to take any steps to protect or seek assistance for her before and after her murder. No sentence can reverse this tragedy, but I welcome the decision to reflect the gravity of this offending by increasing the sentence today.