The defendant complained that, although the judge had said there was only a low risk of his re-offending, after conviction for a minor sex offence, he had nevertheless been sentenced to an extended period of imprisonment.
Held: It was recognised that the appropriate treatment programmes would only be effective where defendants received sentences of sufficient length to allow any treatment some chance of success. This might require longer sentences than might otherwise be justified for some offenders. The judge had correctly balanced the defendant’s cirumstances. Once there was a risk of re-offending, even slight it was a matter for the assessment of the judge.
Judges:
Lord Woolf, Lord Chief Justice, Pitchford, Jack JJ
Citations:
Times 18-Aug-2004
Statutes:
Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 85
Jurisdiction:
England and Wales
Citing:
Cited – Regina v Nelson CACD 24-Oct-2001
The court gave guidelines on sentencing violent or sex offenders. The court should consider in order the commensurate sentence, whether any longer sentence was needed to protect the public, and if the sentence would be four year or longer, whether . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.
Criminal Sentencing
Updated: 06 May 2022; Ref: scu.200295