Sophie Murray appeared in the Court of Appeal last week for the appellant in a successful appeal against an extended sentence. It was argued that the Judge had failed to conduct the appropriate weighting exercise according to the sentencing guidelines and that the 4-year term which was passed was simply selected to enable the Judge to add an extended licence period.
This case highlights the importance of conducting the correct weighting process by applying the sentencing guidelines before any consideration is made as to dangerousness/extended sentences.
The appeal was allowed to the extent that the previous sentence of 4 years + 1-year extended licence was quashed, and an overall term of 2 years and 3 months was imposed instead.