Imprisonment - Length of sentence R v Scarth: Court of Appeal, Criminal Division (Lords Justice Pitchford, Wilkie, Mr Justice Holroyde (judgment delivered extempore)): 9 September 2011 The Court of Appeal, Criminal Division, allowed an appeal by an 86-year-old defendant against a sentence for six months' imprisonment for contempt of court, on the basis that, in the light of the background medical information not available to the sentencing judge, the public interest would not be served by the continued imprisonment of the defendant. read more