We have adopted a specialist team approach to our practices for many years. We feel that this is the way our clients want us to work, and that specialisation leads to the provision of a better service.
We have adopted a specialist team approach to our practices for many years. We feel that this is the way our clients want us to work, and that specialisation leads to the provision of a better service.
Insights
08/10/2025
Sam Jones appeared at the Court of Appeal (7th October 2025) representing a defendant who had received an extended sentence of 11 years 6 months imprisonment for an offence of Aggravated Burglary committed in February 2024.
The Defendant had been detained under the Mental Health Act following a deterioration in his mental health. The day he was released from that detention, he armed himself with a knife and forced his way into a man’s home. He attacked the man with the knife slashing him across the face causing significant injuries.
Psychiatric evidence confirmed the defendant was fit to plead; he pleaded guilty and was sentence to a total sentence of 11 years and 6 months, comprising of a determinate term of 7 years 6 months imprisonment and an extended licence period of 4 years.
Sam successfully argued at the Court of Appeal (with leave) that the sentencing judge had adopted too high a starting point when applying the sentencing guidelines and had failed to reduce the sentence sufficiently to reflect the defendant’s mental illness.
In allowing the appeal the Court (consisting of Yip J, Jay J and HHJ Lodge) noted Sam’s thorough and able written and oral submissions and reduced the determinate term of imprisonment to 6 years (extended for 4 years) to a total sentence of 10 years.
Call: 2008
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