Michael Wheeler's sentence has been referred to the Appeal Court

Michael Wheeler, 36, from Cambridge, was jailed for three years after he admitted to having unlawful sexual intercourse and indecently assaulting two 13-year-old girls.

He had contacted the youngsters through an internet chat room while posing as a 16-year-old boy.

At the time of the sentencing the mother of one of the girls said she was "disgusted" by the jail term.

Attorney General Lord Goldsmith has referred the case to the Court of Appeal which will consider the sentence.

'Family suffering'

The mother of one of the victims said she was "delighted" the case was being reviewed.

Speaking to the BBC she said: "It's good that people are taking notice that the sentence was not long enough.

"My daughter is still suffering and it will help her to know that other people feel it was a lenient sentence. I hope they at least double it.

"All our family is suffering through this. He could be out next year and that worries us all."

Wheeler, an electronics engineer, pleaded guilty to 11 sex offences against young girls.

He contacted his first victim through the internet when she was 11, and then "groomed her" for two years, buying her presents and taking her to the cinema.

He was placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for life, but has already been in custody for seven months and could be freed within a year.

Legislation due to come into force in the autumn would give judges greater power when dealing with people trying to groom children using the internet.