The purpose of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 was to provide protection and permit punishment in circumstances where it was not the individual acts or conduct themselves, but rather their persistence and their impact upon the victim to which regard should be paid. In considering whether a short sharp sentence of imprisonment was appropriate, the sentencing judge was bound to have regard to the chances of re-offending. It was proper to regard the restraining order and punishment by way of sentence as complimentary provisions.

CA (Crim Div) (Lord Bingham of Cornhill LCJ, Alliott J, Newman J)

21/03/2000