In an appeal against a sentence of seven years' imprisonment for offences of supplying class A drugs, it was inappropriate and unjust for the sentencing judge to have imposed the minimum sentence recommended in s.3 Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 in view of the history of the case. Taking that history together with the fact that the appellant had made extreme efforts to rehabilitate himself, the sentence would be quashed and substituted with a term of three years' imprisonment.

CA (Crim Div) (Henry LJ, Rafferty J, Judge Brian Walsh QC)

01/03/2000