August 23, 2021
Joanna Hardy-Susskind has successfully argued that a sentence imposed for historic sexual offending dating from the 1970’s was manifestly excessive.
The appellant was sentenced for historic sexual offences and for a modern offence of possessing a weapon. He was sentenced to a determinate sentence of 1 year imprisonment for the weapons offence and a total sentence of 17 years imprisonment with an extended licence period of 4 years for the sexual offences.
Unusually, between committing and being convicted of the sexual offences the appellant had served over 30 years in custody for an offence of murder.
Joanna successfully argued that the interim term of imprisonment – measured in decades – should have been taken into some measured account when sentencing the appellant for offences that pre-dated the imposition of that sentence.
The overall term was reduced to a 1 year determinate sentence for the weapons offence and a total sentence of 15 years imprisonment with an extended licence of 3 years for the sexual offences.
Joanna pursued the appeal without leave – which was granted at the hearing – and was instructed by Stephen Davies at Tuckers Solicitors.