Convicted sex offender Milton Richardson has lost an appeal against his conviction, while the Crown lost an appeal to increase his sentence.

Richardson, a 48-year-old former youth leader, was convicted of touching a boy under the age of 13 for a sexual purpose following a trial in the Magistrates’ Court.

The court heard that sometime between January 5 and 12, 2013, Richardson kissed a boy on the neck. In a second incident on January 19, 2013, he kissed the same boy’s ear, neck and mouth — attempting to push his tongue into the boy’s mouth and forcing his victim to clench his teeth shut.

During the trial, his victim took the stand and disputed suggestions that any aspects of his story were fabricated. Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo found Richardson guilty and was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

He appealed both his conviction and sentence to the Supreme Court. While Chief Justice Ian Kawaley upheld the conviction, he reduced the sentence to one year in prison. As Richardson had already served nine months in prison — more than two thirds of his sentence — he was immediately released from custody.

He subsequently launched another appeal against conviction to the Court of Appeals, while the Crown launched an appeal against his sentence, challenging the decision to reduce the term of imprisonment.

The Court of Appeal announced yesterday that it had dismissed both appeals, stating that written reasons for the decision will be released in the near future.