The Attorney General Larry Mussenden said yesterday he was "appalled" when high sentences were not put down in paedophile cases when higher sentences were available.

Sen. Mussenden made the comments in the wake of public outcry after a 31-year-old Hamilton parish man was sentenced to three years in prison for getting a 12-year-old girl pregnant.

When asked if the Criminal Code would be amended because of the perception of a light sentence, Sen. Mussenden said: "I don't comment on cases before the court. The case may be appealed and I won't comment about that case until the time limit (for the Crown to appeal) has stopped running."

However, he went on to say: "The Criminal Code provides for harsh penalties for sexual offences and provides for a combination orders ? imprisonment and probation for sex offenders.

"I will add this: In sex offender cases a stiff sentence could have been given with the recommendation for sex offences treatment whilst in custody.

"And when it came time for the offender to be returned into the community then the parole board could have dealt with any further treatment necessary whilst the offender would be on parole allowing for his return into the community."

"Nothing is wrong with our sentencing provisions when it comes to the sentencing of sexual offenders," Sen. Mussenden continued. "Finally, I am not speaking specifically to any case. My comments are in the general.

"For instance there was a recent case of an offender where the person was sentenced to 25 years in a similar circumstance," he said.

"Generally I am appalled at sentences of a sexual nature involving children where a full sentence of the law is not being used by the court," Sen. Mussenden said.