A surgeon jailed for 15 years after carrying out needless breast operations faces a bid to increase his sentence.

Ian Paterson, who left victims scarred and disfigured, was handed the prison term in May following a trial at Nottingham Crown Court.

But Court of Appeal judges are now being asked to rule on whether a term of 15 years for his crimes is 'unduly lenient' and should be increased.

The case has been referred to the court by Solicitor General Robert Buckland.

Lady Justice Hallett, Mrs Justice Carr and Mr Justice Goss will review the sentence at a hearing in London on Thursday.

Paterson, 59, from Altrincham, Greater Manchester, was convicted by a jury of offences of wounding with intent and unlawful wounding against ten patients.

Sentencing him to a total of 15 years, Mr Justice Jeremy Baker told Paterson: 'You deliberately played upon their worst fears, either by inventing or deliberately exaggerating the risk that they would develop cancer.'

The judge added that Paterson therefore gained his patients' trust and confidence to manipulate them into consenting to the surgical procedures he carried out. Victims told the court of how Paterson's crimes had left them in constant pain and struggling to trust medical professionals.

The judge said that because of his actions, most of his victims were suffering from 'prolonged psychological conditions' including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression.

In 2012, more than 700 patients of Paterson, who also worked in the NHS, were recalled after concerns about unnecessary or incomplete operations.

Following his trial, Paterson was struck off from the medical profession. 

A tribunal ruled that his actions were 'serious' as well as 'intentionally harmful' over a period of 14 years.

His failure to acknowledge any of his faults showed a lack of insight that indicated he still posed a serious risk to patients, the medical practitioners tribunal also concluded.