Appeal court lifts dealer’s sentence to 13 years
On 9 December 2025, appeal judges increased Dale Hamilton’s prison term from 10 to 13 years after the Solicitor General referred his case under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme. Hamilton, 30, from Middlesbrough, had been sentenced at Teesside Crown Court on 11 August 2025 for two robberies, kidnapping, blackmail and supplying Class A drugs, the Attorney General’s Office said.
Content note: this report includes references to threats and knives. According to the government’s account, Hamilton ran a cocaine line in 2024, targeted a neighbour who was in recovery, and even pushed cocaine through their letterbox to trigger relapse. He later threatened the neighbour with a so‑called ‘zombie knife’, took over their flat, and while on bail for robbery, extorted his driver-at one point threatening to harm the driver’s children. The neighbour’s Victim Personal Statement described fear and anxiety.
Why could the sentence change after it was imposed? In England and Wales, the ULS scheme allows the Attorney General or Solicitor General to ask the Court of Appeal to review a Crown Court sentence within 28 days if it appears unduly low. Anyone can request this review online, but the law officers must receive it by 5pm on the last working day within that 28‑day window.
Not every offence qualifies for the ULS scheme, but serious crimes tried in the Crown Court-such as robbery, kidnap and blackmail-are in scope. The Crown Prosecution Service explains that prosecutors prepare reports for the law officers, who decide whether to refer a case; the Court of Appeal may keep the sentence or increase it if it falls far outside what was reasonable.
What do judges weigh when deciding sentence length? Courts start with the law and the Sentencing Council’s guidelines. For blackmail and for kidnap/false imprisonment, new definitive guidelines took effect on 1 April 2025. Aggravating features can include targeting a vulnerable person, offending while on bail, use or threats with a weapon, and detaining a victim at home.
What does “13 years” actually mean? Most adult sentences are determinate, so time is split between custody and supervision on licence. Since September–October 2024, many standard determinate sentences carry automatic release at 40% rather than 50%, but serious violent and sexual offences can still have a two‑thirds release point. The precise release point depends on the offence, sentence length and the rules in force at the time.
How Victim Personal Statements work. You have the right to explain-in your own words-how a crime has affected you physically, emotionally or financially. A VPS is separate from a witness statement and can be considered by the judge at sentencing; you can ask to have it read in court. This right is set out in the Victims’ Code and supporting GOV.UK guidance.
Knife law, briefly. ‘Zombie knives’ were first banned from sale in 2016. In 2021, the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 brought in a wider ban on possessing many offensive weapons in private. From 24 September 2024, it became illegal to own zombie‑style knives and certain machetes, with a national surrender scheme before the ban took effect, according to the Home Office.
If you think a sentence is too low. You can ask the Attorney General’s Office to review a Crown Court sentence under the ULS scheme, but you must act quickly: the legal deadline is 28 days from the date of sentence, with a 5pm cut‑off on the last working day. The Court of Appeal may leave the sentence unchanged or increase it.
Safeguarding note. If this story raises worries for you or your students, talk to a trusted adult or your school’s designated safeguarding lead. In an emergency, call 999. Victim Support can offer confidential help, and Crimestoppers takes anonymous information about crime. If drugs are a pressure point, tell a teacher or support worker.
How we read official sources together. Today’s facts come from an Attorney General’s Office press release on GOV.UK. Government statements aim to inform the public and highlight official action; they’re not the judge’s full legal reasoning. For deeper study, look out for sentencing remarks or any published Court of Appeal judgment when available.
What this means for learners and teachers. We can use this case to practise legal literacy: understand what a scheme like ULS can and cannot do, discuss how a VPS gives victims a voice at sentencing, and explore why knife laws have tightened over time. Keep the focus on safety, rights and responsibilities-both in the community and online.