Osteopath who sexually assaulted five male patients.

Osteopath's Sentence Increased for Sexually Assaulting Five Patients

An osteopath who sexually assaulted five male patients, including two teenagers, has had his prison sentence increased from 18 months to four years by the Court of Appeal.

Mark Piraino, 40, from Redhill, Surrey, was originally sentenced in February at Guildford Crown Court after being convicted of the offenses. The victims' ages ranged from 13 to 31.

The Solicitor General, Oliver Heald, argued for a harsher sentence, stating that the original term did not adequately reflect the severity of the crimes, the number of victims, and the period of offending.

"I felt the original sentence didn't reflect the number of victims, period of offending or the appalling breach of trust," said Heald after the appeal hearing. "I am pleased the court agreed with me."

Lady Justice Hallett, presiding over the appeal panel, emphasized that Piraino's "carrying on offending" until he was "preying on quite young boys" warranted a more significant punishment.

"We have a duty to the individual complainants and to patients or clients up and down the country who are entitled to trust that healthcare professionals behave appropriately when they are at their most vulnerable," Lady Justice Hallett stated.