DPP to appeal sentence of man who raped girlfriend in sleep

Prosecutors have been given a date in February to argue that a wholly suspended sentence imposed on a man who raped his girlfriend while she slept was “unduly lenient”.

Norwegian national Magnus Meyer Hustveit (25), had pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to one count of rape and one count of sexual assault committed against his girlfriend (28) between 2011 and 2012.

He was given a wholly suspended seven year sentence by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy on July 13th 2015.

Hustveit, whose victim waived her right to anonymity so that his identity could be published, returned to his native Norway after he was given the suspended sentence.

The Director of Public Prosecutions has sought a review of Hustveit's sentence on grounds that it was "unduly lenient".

During procedural matters in the Court of Appeal on Monday, Mr Justice George Birmingham fixed February 4th as the date for the hearing.

Hustveit was not in court for the procedural matter.