JUSTICE bosses are set to review the seven-year jail sentence handed to a paedophile who twice abused a young boy.

David Pennery was also caught with more than 4,000 indecent images of children as well as about 800 sickening videos on his computers and USB devices.

The 25-year-old was handed the seven year sentence last month at Ipswich Crown Court after admitting a total of six charges, including three counts of sexually assaulting a child aged under 13, in Colchester, in March 2014, and three counts of having indecent images on his laptop between April 2013 and December last year.

But yesterday the Attorney General’s office confirmed the case had been referred to the Court of Appeal after concerns over the sentence being unduly lenient.

That means three judges will decide whether Pennery, of Rayner Road, Colchester, should face more time in jail.

A court date is expected to be set in the autumn and it is understood the hearing will focus on whether Pennery’s separate sentences should run consecutively, rather than concurrently, as was set down by Judge Martyn Levett or whether up to two charges of possessing indecent images were left off his charge list when he was sentenced.

That means he could receive a maximum of more than 14 years in jail, though it is unlikely such an increase would be sanctioned.

The predator’s attacks, one of which lasted up to 20 minutes, took place in the victims’ home, in Tendring, as well as in Pennery’s home between March 2014 and December 2015.

Jailing former Colchester Zoo worker Pennery last month, Judge Levett said: “The harm caused by your actions is immeasurable and undoubtedly carries through the family as a whole.

“The boy was extremely young at the time and you carried out the assaults on several occasions.

“It was at a time when you had been accepted and trusted into the family.”

Det Con Rachel Moss, of Essex Police, labelled Pennery as a “dangerous predator” and said his crimes were “vile and despicable”.