Application under section 36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 by Her Majesty’s Attorney General for leave to refer a sentence to this court because it appears to him to be unduly lenient. Conviction for grievous bodily harm and sentence of five years and five months, Citations: [2006] EWCA Crim 228 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England … Continue reading Reference 99 of 2005 By the Attorney General, Re S.36 Criminal Justice Act 1988: CACD 15 Feb 2006
The AG sought to refer to the court as unduly lenient a sentence of 100 hours community service for causing death by dangerous driving. The had been seen driving erratically along the M6, when he veered onto the hard shoulder colliding with an unlit vehicle, killing the driver. Held: Falling asleep at the wheel usually … Continue reading Attorney General’s Reference No 26 of 1999 Under Section 36 of Criminal Justice Act 1988; Regina v Gastinger: CACD 29 Jul 1999
Conspiracy to convert or transfer the proceeds of drug trafficking or of criminal conduct – confiscation order available. The statutory distinction existed between the proceeds of drug trafficking and of crime generally had now been removed, but the conduct here pre-dated the new Act. The offence of conspiracy took place at the time of the … Continue reading Attoney-General’s Reference No 4 of 2003 Under S. 36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988; Suchedina: CACD 21 Jul 2004
The minimum approriate sentence for an offence of s18 wounding was 4 years. Judges: Lord Bingham Citations: [1996] EWCA Crim 1070, [1997] 1 Cr App R (S) 363 Links: Bailii Statutes: Offences Against the Persons Act 1861 18 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Cited – Attorney-General’s Reference No 88 of 2000 CACD 2001 The … Continue reading Attorney General’s Reference No 36 of 1996 Under Section 36 of Criminal Justice Act 1988: Regina v Johnson: CACD 15 Oct 1996
Appeal against sentences for conspiracy to rob as too lenient. Held: The starting point for sentencing these offenders, taken from the guidelines applicable at the date of sentencing, in respect of their participation in this conspiracy to rob should be in the range of 6 to 11 years imprisonment, depending on the nature and extent … Continue reading Attorney Generals Reference Under Section 36 of The Criminal Justice Act 1988, Kelly and Others v Regina: CACD 30 Jun 2016
USSC While surveilling petitioner Murray and others suspected of illegal drug activities, federal agents observed both petitioners driving vehicles into, and later out of, a warehouse, and, upon petitioners’ exit, saw that the warehouse contained a tractor-trailer rig bearing a long container.Petitioners later turned over their vehicles to other drivers, who were in turn followed … Continue reading Murray v United States: 27 Jun 1988
The claimant appealed against refusal of a review of the defendant to allow her compensation after her conviction for manslaughter of her infant son was quashed. Held: The conviction had been based on flawed expert evidence. Article 6(2) had no application to section 133. Hughes LJ [2008] EWCA Civ 808, [2009] 1 Cr App R … Continue reading Allen (formerly Harris), Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for Justice: CA 15 Jul 2008
The defendant was to be charged with offences associated with terrorism. He had sought stay of the trial as an abuse of process saying that he had been tortured by English US and Pakistani authorities. The judge made an order as to what parts of the . .
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From failure to make compensation orders Judges: Lord Justice Hooper Citations: [2006] EWCA Crim 796 Links: Bailii Statutes: Criminal Justice Act 1988 36 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Criminal Sentencing Updated: 24 November 2022; Ref: scu.240365
Judges: Raffert LJ, Thirlwall, Gilbart JJ Citations: [2012] EWCA Crim 2356 Links: Bailii Statutes: Criminal Justice Act 1988 36 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Criminal Sentencing Updated: 06 November 2022; Ref: scu.465626
Consecutive sentences are appropriate for the supply of drugs causing severe injury. Citations: Times 22-May-1995 Statutes: Criminal Justice Act 1988 36 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Criminal Sentencing Updated: 27 October 2022; Ref: scu.87005
Citations: [2006] EWCA Crim 3269 Links: Bailii Statutes: Criminal Justice Act 1988 36 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Criminal Sentencing Updated: 24 October 2022; Ref: scu.248240
In each case the appellant had been convicted of particularly serious murders and had been given whole life terms. They now appealed saying that such sentences were incompatible with their human rights after the ruling of the ECHR Grand Chamber in Vinter v UK. Held: The appeals failed. Judges: Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, LCJ; Sir … Continue reading Regina v McLoughlin; Regina v Newell: CACD 18 Feb 2014
The Court of Appeal may change a sentence tariff on a reference for leniency, but not against this defendant. Citations: Times 15-Nov-1996 Statutes: Criminal Justice Act 1988 36 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Criminal Sentencing Updated: 08 October 2022; Ref: scu.87119
The A-G sought to refer as unduly lenient, the defendant’s sentence of 18 years for murder. Judges: Hooper LJ, Hickinbottom J Citations: [2012] EWCA Crim 135 Links: Bailii Statutes: Criminal Justice Act 1988 36 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Criminal Sentencing Updated: 04 October 2022; Ref: scu.451147
The AG sought leave to appeal against a sentence of two years imprisonment suspended after the defendant’s conviction for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. Held: In considering the appropriate length of sentence was two and a half years or more, the notion of suspending the term should not have even been considered. Judges: Pitchford … Continue reading Regina v Williams; Attorney General’s Reference No 40 of 2011: CACD 2 Sep 2011
Judges: Lord Woolf of Barnes LCJ Citations: [2005] EWCA Crim 954 Links: Bailii Statutes: Criminal Justice Act 1988 36 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Criminal Sentencing Updated: 14 September 2022; Ref: scu.249343
Citations: [1996] EWCA Crim 1110, [1996] 1 Cr App R (S) 11 Statutes: Criminal Justice Act 1988 36 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Cited – Regina v Wood and Maguire CACD 30-Apr-1998 . . Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete. Criminal Sentencing Updated: 13 September 2022; Ref: scu.148774
The court was asked how the judge should approach offences committed under the Sexual Offences Act 1956 in the context of the Definitive Guidelines under the Sexual Offences Act 2003. It raises the important point as to how the judge should approach the totality where there has, over a considerable period, been a variety of … Continue reading Attorney General’s Reference No 7 of 2011: CACD 7 Mar 2011
The court granted to the prosecutor leave to appeal as unduly lenient against the sentence of three years imprisonment imposed on the defendant for misconduct in public office. As a police offiocer with access to police information systems he had supplied sensitive and confidential information to criminal associates in return for cocaine.. Judges: Leveson LJ, … Continue reading Bohannan, Regina v: CACD 21 Sep 2010
The AG referred two case of sentencing for possession of false identity documents. Citations: [2008] EWCA Crim 677 Links: Bailii Statutes: Criminal Justice Act 1988 36 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Cited – John, Regina v CACD 19-Aug-2008 The defendant was convicted of possession of false identity documents, and sentenced to fifteen months imprisonment. … Continue reading Attorney General Reference Nos 1 and 6 of 2008: CACD 4 Mar 2008
The defendants had been tried in cases where the prosecution had employed leading counsel. The defendants had been refused similar representation. They complained that this created an inequality of arms, and an unfair trial under Human Rights law. The question also arose as to the maximum sentence allowable after a re-trial ordered by the Court … Continue reading Regina v Lea (Attorney-General’s Reference No 82 of 2000); Regina v Shatwell: CACD 28 Jan 2002
Citations: [2009] NICA 42 Links: Bailii Statutes: Criminal Justice Act 1988 36 Northern Ireland, Criminal Sentencing Updated: 04 August 2022; Ref: scu.375993
Judges: Judge LJ, Forbes J, Slade J Citations: [2008] EWCA Crim 3135, [2009] 2 Cr App R (S) 42 Links: Bailii Statutes: Criminal Justice Act 1988 36 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Criminal Sentencing Updated: 04 August 2022; Ref: scu.374446
The Court of Appeal has jurisdiction to hear Attorney General’s reference on an indictable crime committed by a juvenile. Citations: Ind Summary 12-Apr-1993 Statutes: Criminal Justice Act 1988 36 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Criminal Practice Updated: 23 July 2022; Ref: scu.88227
The defendant had been found guilty of wounding with intent. The AG now appealed saying that the 3 years sentence of imprisonment was inadequate. He had attacked another man outside a oub with a knife. He had a previous offence involving an attack outside a pub with a bottle. He was a serving private in … Continue reading Attorney General’s Reference No 61 of 2007 (Madden): CACD 4 Jul 2007
The Attorney General sought to appeal against the defendant’s sentence for blackmail, saying that it ( Custody Probation Order of 6 years, consisting of 4 and a half years’ imprisonment followed by 18 months on probation) was unduly lenient. Judges: Nicholson LJ, Campbell LJ and Coghlin J Citations: [2006] NICA 38 Links: Bailii Statutes: Criminal … Continue reading O’Donnell, Regina v: CANI 19 Oct 2006
The Attorney-General referred sentences for conspiracy to supply drugs. The offenders were part of a highly professional organisation, in close contact with each other and others in this country and abroad over a period of months, which culminated in the importation of Class A and B drugs worth in the region of andpound;5 million, intended … Continue reading Attorney General’s Reference Nos 5-8 of 2003 (Davies, Rowan, Abbey, Hassan): CACD 14 Nov 2003
The Attorney General referred the sentences as too lenient for armed robbery, and aggravated vehicle taking. The defendants worked as a team, and used an imitation firearm, and threatened a victim with it. Held: The possession of firearms should be regarded as an aggravating feature in relation to other offences. When passing sentence, it is … Continue reading Attorney General’s Reference No 88 of 2002 (Hahn and Webster): CACD 7 Nov 2003
The A-G sought leave to appeal against what she saw as an unduly lenient sentence. The defendant had been given six years for rape, unlawful wounding and causing criminal damage to property. Held: Leave was refused. Although his plea to the rape charge had followed the original indication for the others by 11 days, the … Continue reading Regina v Haimes, Attorney General’s Reference (No 79 of 2009): CACD 4 Feb 2010
The A-G sought leave to refer as unduly lenient a sentence imposed on the defendant. The judge had written down his reasons but had not read them out in court. Held: The defendant was of low IQ and with other mental health problems. The judge had given reasons but then provided detailed reasons only in … Continue reading Attorney General’s Reference (No 96 of 2009); Regina v F: CACD 11 Feb 2010
The Attorney General referred the defendant’s sentence to the court as being unduly lenient. The judge had remarked as to the overcrowding of prisons. He had passed a suspended sentence of 12 months in a young offenders’ institution with 100 hours community service for possession with intent to supply of a class A drug. Held: … Continue reading Attorney General’s Reference (No 11 of 2006) Regina v Scarth: CACD 21 Mar 2006
The defendant complained that he had pleaded guilty to a charge of corruption on the basis of an indication from the judge that he would not receive a custodial sentence. Having pleaded guilty he had then been sentenced to a six months prison sentence suspended for two years. Held: It was time to move on … Continue reading Goodyear, Karl, Regina v: CACD 19 Apr 2005
The defendant, a prominent TV journalist had been found guilty of a series of historical assaults against young girls he met during his work. The AG now appealed against the sentence it being, he said, unduly lenient. The defendant had persisted in his virulent denials through until conviction. Held: Public denunciations of allegations can amount … Continue reading Hall, Regina v (Arrorney General’s Reference No 38 of 2013): CACD 26 Jul 2013
Three defendants were convicted of an horrendous rape. They were sentenced in accordance with the guidelines, but the Attorney-General appealed saying that the sentences were unduly lenient. Held: The judge had correctly applied the sentencing guidelines, but guidelines could not cover every circumstance. The case was horrifying, and a sentence of fourteen years (increased from … Continue reading McMorris and Others, Regina v: CACD 2 Jul 2009
The defendant sought leave to appeal against his sentence. The Attorney-General had already referred the sentence to the Court of Appeal which had increased the term applicable. He now sought to bring in fresh medical evidence suggesting that he should instead be subject to a hospital order. Held: The defendant had a right to appeal, … Continue reading Hughes v Regina: CACD 14 May 2009
Counsel appearing at the tribunal had previously sat as a judge with a tribunal member. The opposing party asserted bias in the tribunal. Held: The test in Gough should be restated in part so that the court must first ascertain all the circumstances which have a bearing on the suggestion that the judge was biased. … Continue reading Lawal v Northern Spirit Limited: HL 19 Jun 2003
Application on behalf of the Attorney General for leave to make a Reference to this Court, under section 36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (‘the 1988 Act’), on the ground that the sentence was unduly lenient. Citations: [2021] EWCA Crim 537 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Criminal Sentencing Updated: 09 December 2022; Ref: … Continue reading Ferreira, Regina v: CACD 18 Mar 2021
(Mauritius) The applicant appealed three counts of contempt of court, arising from speeches made by him in the political debate. He had been a minister, but was subject to investigation for fraud. To found a appeal he had to show some blatant or significant disregard or breach of legal process, or injustice. The board do … Continue reading Badry v The Director of Public Prosecutions: PC 15 Nov 1982
Prosecutor’s appeal – whether funds paid into bank accounts represented proceeds of advanced fee frauds. Citations: [2007] EWHC 1304 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, Criminal Justice Act 1988 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Crime Updated: 06 December 2022; Ref: scu.253665
The defendant was convicted of murder. Evidence during the trial suggested a possibility of manslaughter, but neither the defence nor prosecution proposed the alternate verdict. The defendant now appealed saying that the judge had an independent duty to leave that option to the jury. Held: The appeal succeeded. The judge should have left a manslaughter … Continue reading Regina v Coutts: HL 19 Jul 2006
M appealed by way of case stated against the decision convicting him of an offence of an assault by beating, contrary to Section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988. The questions for the opinion of this court were: ‘1. Were we entitled to consider whether the amount of force used by the appellant was … Continue reading Marsh v Director of Public Prosecutions: Admn 6 Mar 2015
A Local Authority found guilty of a statutory nuisance is not thereby liable for a civil damages suit. Citations: Times 26-Nov-1996, [1996] EWCA Civ 998, [1997] 1 WLR 956, (1997) 29 HLR 640, [1997] Env LR 157 Links: Bailii Statutes: Public Health Act 1936 Part II (Nuisance etc) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Cited – … Continue reading Issa (Suing By her Next Friend and Father Issa) and Issa (Suing By her Next Friend and Father Issa) v Mayor and Burgesses of London Borough of Hackney: CA 19 Nov 1996
Application by HM Solicitor General to refer to this court a sentence passed on the offender, under section 36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 as being unduly lenient. Judges: Lord Justice Simon Mrs Justice Mcgowan DBE Mr Justice Freedman Citations: [2019] EWCA Crim 1602 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Criminal Sentencing Updated: 27 … Continue reading Qoraishi, Regina v: CACD 6 Sep 2019
The defendants appealed against confiscation orders each for more than andpound;92 million said to have been derived from a substantial fraud. Held: The appeals succeeded. Sums which had been paid into banks as the result of a purported sale of goods by a buffer company in the course of a carousel fraud generating false claims … Continue reading Ahmad and Another v Regina: CACD 2 Mar 2012
Solicitor General’s application to refer sentences to this court under section 36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 as being unduly lenient. Citations: [2018] EWCA Crim 1170 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Criminal Sentencing Updated: 19 October 2022; Ref: scu.624003
Whether whole life order appropriate on sentencing for serious sexual offences. Judges: Lord Burnett of Maldon CJ, Dame Victoria Sharp P, Fulford LJ, Choudhury, Cutts JJ Citations: [2020] WLR(D) 675, [2020] EWCA Crim 1676 Links: Bailii, WLRD, Judiciary Statutes: Criminal Justice Act 1988 35 36 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Applied – Burinskas, Regina v, … Continue reading McCann and Others, Regina v: CACD 11 Dec 2020
The court was asked as to the circumstances in which sentences passed on offenders who have given assistance to prosecuting authorities should be referred back to the sentencing court under section 74 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005. Held: ‘The Divisional Court’s view that the predominant factor in deciding where the interests … Continue reading Loughlin, Re Application for Judicial Review: SC 18 Oct 2017
The Crown appealed a decision that a conviction under subsection 2 required proof that the money the disposal of which the defendant was accused to have assisted was in fact the proceeds of drug trafficking. Held: Subsections 1 and 2 were clearly differently worded. Under section 1 it was necessary to prove that the goods … Continue reading Regina v Montilla, Newbury etc: CACD 3 Nov 2003
Representative claims were made against the respondents, hospitals, pathologists etc with regard to the removal of organs from deceased children without the informed consent of the parents. They claimed under the tort of wrongful interference. Held: Organ removal when a post mortem had been ordered by the coroner was not tortious. In English law there … Continue reading AB and others v Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust: QBD 26 Mar 2004
The judge has a discretion as to the admission of the written statement made by a witness who had died before trial. Held: The circumstances must vary, according not least to the nature of the issue on which the deceased’s evidence was required. Simple rules could not always apply, but sufficient and proper warning should … Continue reading Regina v Hardwick: CACD 28 Feb 2001
The defendant appealed against two convictions under the 1988 Act for possession of a bladed article in a public place. She said that whilst riding in a taxi, she had been sexually assaulted. She later collected the knives and went off to find the taxi driver. She had been drinking. She complained of the judge’s … Continue reading Clancy, Regina v: CACD 18 Jan 2012
Application by the Attorney General for leave to refer to this court under section 36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 a sentence imposed on this offender on the grounds that it is unduly lenient. The sentence was one of 2 years’ imprisonment imposed concurrently on the offender in respect of two offences of possessing … Continue reading Attorney General Reference No 97 of 2006: CACD 19 Oct 2006
Four defendants appealed convictions in money laundering cases. The first defendant operated a money exchange through which substantial volumes of cash were moved, but claimed that he believed the money to have been honestly acquired. Held: Saik now meant that the requirement was for actual suspicion, not mere reasonable cause for suspicion. However in this … Continue reading Suchedina v Regina; similar: CACD 27 Oct 2006
The defendant faced an accusation of having slapped a child in the street. The child’s carer had called the police to say that she thought the complaint a practical joke. The defendant did not give evidence. The magistrates retired and came back to convict him, but saying that they had seen his antecedents, which had … Continue reading Murchison v Southend Magistrates’ Court: Admn 24 Jan 2006
An indictment had not been signed despite a clear statutory provision that it should be. The defects were claimed to have been cured by amendment before sentence. Held: The convictions failed. Sections 1(1) and 2(1) of the 1933 Act which provided for a bill of indictment (which had of itself no legal standing save as … Continue reading Clarke, Regina v; Regina v McDaid: HL 6 Feb 2008
Appeal from conviction for carrying bladed article – judge ruling that not a good reason that he anticipated being attacked again by a particular person. Held: The appeal succeeded: ‘from the authorities already referred to, it could amount to a ‘good reason’ under section 139(4) if the appellant was carrying the knife for his own … Continue reading Mcauley, Regina v: CACD 8 Oct 2009
The court considered appeals by the Attorney-General against sentences considered to be too lenient, and in particular where a community penalty had been imposed rather than a sentence of immediate imprisonment. Held: The Court emphasised the need for the strict care to be taken in selecting such cases, for appeal. The court should not interfere … Continue reading Attorney General’s Reference v Nos. 31, 45, 43, 42, 50 and 51 of 2003; Regina v McInerney; Regina v McLean: CACD 16 Jul 2004
Appeal after statement of witness read to the court Citations: [1999] EWCA Crim 553 Links: Bailii Statutes: Criminal Justice Act 1988 23 24 25 26 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Criminal Practice Updated: 10 June 2022; Ref: scu.536015
The defendants had been convicted of animal welfare offences, and banned from keeping animals. The claimant sought to enter the premises to remove animals, but were denied entry. Held: The court had no power to make an order to allow access for this purpose:’ truth what the Council is doing is to point to deficiencies … Continue reading Worcestershire County Council v Tongue, Tongue, and Tongue: CA 17 Feb 2004
Application, brought by the Solicitor General, under section 36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, for leave to refer a sentence which he considers to be unduly lenient. The sentence was passed on the offender after the offender had pleaded guilty to five offences, counts 2, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of sexual activity with … Continue reading Sargent, Regina v: CACD 21 Aug 2018
Smith had bought a motor vessel, The Vertine, with andpound;55,000 provided by his co-defendant, John Marriott. In the words of the judge when imposing sentence, the respondent allowed himself to be used as Marriott’s ship owner and captain. The boat was used in April 1998 on a run to Heligoland to buy cigarettes and to … Continue reading Regina v Smith (David Cadnam): HL 13 Dec 2001
The defendants had been required to enter into a recognisance to be of good behaviour after disrupting a hunt by blowing of a hunting horn. They were found to have unlawfully caused danger to the dogs. Though there had been no breach of the peace, they had acted contrac bonos mores. They complained that the … Continue reading Hashman and Harrup v The United Kingdom: ECHR 25 Nov 1999
Lord Woolf MR said that where the original proceedings are brought by a public authority, an appeal is part of those proceedings to which section 22(4) applies: ‘In our judgment, where the original proceedings are brought by, or at the instigation of, a public authority, as is the case with a prosecution, an appeal by … Continue reading Regina v Benjafield, Leal, Rezvi and Milford: CACD 21 Dec 2000
Where the judge decided that no inference could be drawn from the defendant’s silence, because of the absence of facts which could have been mentioned, he had a duty positively to warn the jury not arbitrarily to draw adverse inferences from the silence. He had been wrong to leave it open to the jury to … Continue reading Regina v McGarry: CACD 16 Jul 1998
The defendant appealed his conviction saying the prosecution had failed to disclose an additional earlier and contradictory statement of a central prosecution witness. Held: The statement was of a witness whose evidence had been relied upon by the court and was startlingly different. The applicant having served his sentnce it would be wrong to order … Continue reading Regina v Liverpool Crown Court ex parte Robert Moss: Admn 13 Nov 1996
The defendant was convicted of an offence to which section 15 of the Theft Act did not apply. It involved a deception of the auditors of BCCI in concealing a number of substantial loans made to a group of companies run by the defendant. Buxton J had considered that Rees was confined to its own … Continue reading Abbas Kassimali Gokal v Serious Fraud Office: CA 16 Mar 2001
K, aged 16, had left home to join what was said to be a religious sect. His whereabouts were unknown. He had been made a ward of court and the Official Solicitor was appointed to represent his interests. He had sent messages to say that he was well and did not wish to return. The … Continue reading Kelly (A Minor) v British Broadcasting Corporation: FD 25 Jul 2000
For possession of an indecent image of a child to be proved, it was necessary to establish some knowledge of its existence. Images stored without the defendant’s knowledge by browser software in a hidden cache, of which he was also unaware, were not such, and a conviction was quashed. The situation was akin to a … Continue reading Atkins v Director of Public Prosecutions; Goodland v Director of Public Prosecutions: Admn 8 Mar 2000
The defendant had been convicted of a conspiracy to commit terrorist acts, though no violence had been undertaken. He appealed a life sentence with a minimum term of forty years. Held: The minimum term should be reduced to thirty years. The element of protection of the public was achieved by the life sentence, and that … Continue reading Regina v Barot: CACD 16 May 2007
The defendant pleaded guilty to making false statements, and cheating the public revenue by understating his profits as a market trader over a protracted period. The judge made a confiscation order equal to the amount of undeclared profit. On appeal, that element was set aside. The section referred to the pecuniary advantage obtained by the … Continue reading Regina v Frank Adam Moran (Attorney General’s Reference No 25 of 2001): CACD 27 Jul 2001
21 people protested peacefully on the verge of the A344, next to the perimeter fence at Stonehenge. Some carried banners saying ‘Never Again,’ ‘Stonehenge Campaign 10 years of Criminal Injustice’ and ‘Free Stonehenge.’ The officer in charge concluded that they constituted a ‘trespassory assembly’ and told them so. When asked to move off, many did, … Continue reading Director of Public Prosecutions v Jones and Lloyd: HL 4 Mar 1999
(Redacted) The court was asked to consider the meaning of ‘torture’ from events in a rebellion in Liberia in 1990. The CACD certified the following point of law of general public importance: ‘What is the correct interpretation of the term ‘person acting in an official capacity’ in section 134(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988; … Continue reading Taylor, Regina v: SC 13 Nov 2019
The defendant appealed his sentence of five years after conviction for causing grievous bodily harm. Held: Care should be taken only to place relience upon guideline cases. Particular care should be adopted when considering Attorney General’s References unless they expressed themselves to be of general application, since in those cases the court was considering principally … Continue reading Regina v Lyon: CACD 12 May 2005
The Attorney General referred a sentence for inflicting grievous bodily harm in a ‘road rage’ situation. Held: The section 18 offence should have attracted a sentence of four years after a trial. Citations: [2001] EWCA Crim 68 Statutes: Offences Against the Persons Act 1861 818 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Cited – Attorney General’s Reference … Continue reading Attorney-General’s Reference No 88 of 2000: CACD 2001
The Court of Appeal should not intervene unless it was shown that there was some error of principle in the judge’s sentence, so that public confidence would be damaged if the sentence were not altered. Citations: (1990) 90 Cr App R 358 Statutes: Criminal Justice Act 1988 35 36 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: … Continue reading Attorney-General’s Reference (No 5 of 1989); Regina v Hill-Trevor: CACD 1990
The court considered the approach to be taken by an appellate court asked to review a sentence said to be unduly lenient: ‘The first thing to be observed is that it is implicit in the section that this Court may only increase sentences which it concludes were unduly lenient. It cannot, we are confident, have … Continue reading Attorney-General’s Reference (No 4 of 1989): CACD 1990
Application by Her Majesty’s Attorney General for leave to refer a sentence which she regards as unduly lenient, pursuant to section 36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988. Judges: Lady Justice Macur DBE Mr Justice Pepperall Recorder of Bristol (His Honour Judge Blair QC) (Sitting as a Judge of the Cacd) Citations: [2022] EWCA Crim … Continue reading Spurdens, Regina v: CACD 17 Feb 2022
The deceased was a prisoner known to be at risk of committing suicide. Whilst in police custody he hanged himself in his prison cell. The Commissioner accepted that he was in breach of his duty of care to the deceased, but not that that breach was caustive of the death by suicide. Held: Police and … Continue reading Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis v Reeves (Joint Administratix of The Estate of Martin Lynch, Deceased): HL 15 Jul 1999
There was no inherent power to allow a defendant to give evidence by live link, on the ground that Parliament had sought since 1988 to provide exclusively for the circumstances in which live link might be used in a criminal trial. Judges: Lord Justice Laws Eady The Honourable Mr Justice Eady Citations: [2004] 2 Cr … Continue reading Regina on the Application of S v Waltham Forest Youth Court, The Crown Prosecution Service, The Secretary of State for the Home Department: Admn 31 Mar 2004
Appeal by way of case stated from a convicting the Appellant of three road traffic offences, including failure to provide a specimen of breath for analysis contrary to section 7(6) of the 1988 Act. The ground of appeal is that the justices wrongly acceded to the prosecution application to allow a police officer to refresh … Continue reading Cummings v Crown Prosecution Service: Admn 15 Dec 2016
The best evidence rule does not generally exclude the admission of evidence of lesser quality. If such a rule exists, it applies only to documents in the possession of the partyAckner LJ said: ‘The old rule, that a party must produce the best evidence that the nature of the case will allow, and that any … Continue reading Kajala v Noble: CACD 1982
Balancing Rights of Prisoner and Society The appellant had been convicted of the murder of three police officers in 1966. His tariff of thirty years had now long expired. He complained that material put before the Parole Board reviewing has case had not been disclosed to him. Held: The appeal failed (by a majority). The … Continue reading Roberts v Parole Board: HL 7 Jul 2005
The appellants each challenged alterations to the scheme for compensation of the victims of miscarriages of justice. Held: Laws LJ emphasised the special nature of the promise or practice which was necessary to give rise to a substantive legitimate expectation, saying: ‘Authority shows that where a substantive expectation is to run the promise or practice … Continue reading Bhatt Murphy (a firm), Regina (on the application of) v The Independent Assessor: CA 9 Jul 2008
The appellant was detained under section 37 of the 1983 Act as a mental patient with a restriction under section 41. He sought his release. Held: The standard of proof in such applications remained the balance of probabilities, but that standard was flexible, and varied according to the seriousness of the allegation. The only misdirection … Continue reading AN, Regina (on the Application of) v Mental Health Review Tribunal (Northern Region) and others: CA 21 Dec 2005
The Court was asked as to the powers of the Court of Appeal Criminal Division to re-open an appeal to correct an error which is said to have caused real injustice in that the error led to the quashing of a sentence lawfully imposed in the Crown Court. The court had quashed a conviction based … Continue reading Yasain, Regina v: CACD 16 Jul 2015
Hudoc Preliminary objection rejected (victim); No violation of Art. 6-2 10300/83, [1987] ECHR 21, (1991) 13 EHRR 360, (1988) 10 EHRR 163 Worldlii, Bailii Human Rights Cited by: Cited – Hallam, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Justice SC 30-Jan-2019 These appeals concern the statutory provisions governing the eligibility for compensation … Continue reading Nolkenbockhoff v Germany: ECHR 25 Aug 1987
The plaintiff had been convicted of several counts of receiving stolen goods and sentenced to six years’ imprisonment. He had appealed to the Court of Appeal on the ground that he had been convicted on the basis of evidence in statement form given by witnesses from New Zealand. His appeal failed. Some time later his … Continue reading Bateman and Howse, Regina (on the Application Of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department: CA 17 May 1994
The appellant challenged an order suspending him from practice as a solicitor for two years. He had previous findings of professional misconduct in failing to pay counsels’ fees. In the course of later disciplinary proceedings he was found to have misled the court as to the circumstances of a tribunal hearing when obtaining a stay. … Continue reading Aaron v The Law Society (the Office of the Supervision of Solicitors): QBD 13 Oct 2003
Former HL decision in Siebe Gorman overruled The company had become insolvent. The bank had a debenture and claimed that its charge over the book debts had become a fixed charge. The preferential creditors said that the charge was a floating charge and that they took priority. Held: The appeal was allowed. The debenture, although … Continue reading National Westminster Bank plc v Spectrum Plus Limited and others: HL 30 Jun 2005
Application by Her Majesty’s Attorney General pursuant to s.36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 for leave to refer a sentence to this court upon the ground that she regards it as unduly lenient. [2021] EWCA Crim 1502 Bailii England and Wales Criminal Sentencing Updated: 07 December 2021; Ref: scu.669228
Application by Her Majesty’s Attorney General pursuant to s.36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 for leave to refer the sentences imposed upon the offender for review by this court as she regards the same as unduly lenient. [2021] EWCA Crim 1513 Bailii England and Wales Criminal Sentencing Updated: 30 November 2021; Ref: scu.669229
Three references by the Director of Public Prosecutions under section 36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 in which it is submitted that unduly lenient sentences were imposed on the respondents following convictions for riotous assembly contrary to common law. Morgan LCJ, Coghlin LJ and Horner J [2013] NICA 63 Bailii Northern Ireland Criminal Sentencing … Continue reading Mckeown and Others, Regina v: CANI 12 Nov 2013
Domestic Offence requires Domestic Defence Each defendant sought to raise by way of defence of their otherwise criminal actions, the fact that they were attempting to prevent the commission by the government of the crime of waging an aggressive war in Iraq, and that their acts were accordingly justified in law. Held: The law on … Continue reading Regina v Jones (Margaret), Regina v Milling and others: HL 29 Mar 2006
Application by Her Majesty’s Solicitor General, under section 36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, for leave to refer to this court sentences which he considers to be unduly lenient [2019] EWCA Crim 1686 Bailii England and Wales Criminal Sentencing Updated: 21 November 2021; Ref: scu.642607
Application by Her Majesty’s Solicitor General, under section 36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, for leave to refer to this court a sentence which he considers to be unduly lenient. [2019] EWCA Crim 1694 Bailii England and Wales Criminal Sentencing Updated: 19 November 2021; Ref: scu.642608
BN was convicted of four offences of sexual assault of a child aged under 13, contrary to section 7 of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2003. He was sentenced to concurrent terms of 12 months’ imprisonment on each count. Her Majesty’s Solicitor General believes the total sentence of 12 months to be unduly lenient. Application … Continue reading BN, Regina v: CACD 29 Jul 2021
The appellants had been convicted of murder, it being said that they had disposed of her body at sea. They now said that the delay between being first questioned and being charged infringed their rights to a trial within a reasonable time, and questioned whether they had has an impartial judge, he having also conducted … Continue reading O’Neill v Her Majesty’s Advocate No 2: SC 13 Jun 2013
