A PUBLIC school sex attacker could have his sentence increased after the family of one of his victims launched a legal bid against his term.

The Northern Echo can reveal that the Attorney General has been asked to examine the case of the 17-year-old who abused four boys at the North-East school.

The father of one of the young victims has appealed against the teenager's eight-month sentence, arguing it is unduly lenient and should be increased.

Judge Peter Fox originally sentenced the attacker to two years' detention, but recalled the case and reduced it to eight months after hearing he had secured a place at another public school.

The teenager will serve only half of his sentence and be free before the start of the next academic year in September - a move which is said to have angered some parents of pupils at the fee-paying school.

The father demanding a review of the sentence will find out within two weeks whether the Attorney General is prepared to refer the case to the Court of Appeal to be considered for an increase.

He said: "I do not think eight months is an appropriate sentence for crimes of this sort and I have written to the Attorney General to inquire about the leniency of it. What has happened has incensed a number people and an appeal is one of the few options left open to us."

The attacker was sentenced at Teesside Crown Court, on April 30, after he pleaded guilty to six charges of indecent assault and a further offence of indecent assault on a male person between September 2002 and October 2003. Two counts of rape were ordered to remain on file.

But within a week, Judge Fox recalled the case and said: "That sentence of two years which I passed is manifestly excessive and should be substantially reduced."

The court had earlier heard how the teenager abused a 13-year-old for more than a year and another child who had been at the school only a few weeks.

The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was 15 when he started carrying out the attacks and was caught when an older pupil heard one of his victims discuss the assaults with another boy.

School staff were alerted last October and child protection officers and social services launched an immediate investigation.

Police also found more than 500 indecent images of children when they searched the boy's home.

His victims are now receiving counselling, but were allowed to do so only after the court case was completed.

A spokeswoman for the Attorney General's office last night said: "The case has been referred to us and is being considered at the moment. We have a deadline of June 1 to decide if we will sent it to the Court of Appeal."

Judge Fox featured in a recent TV programme that highlighted the number of cases he sat on that went to appeal because the sentences were considered too harsh.