Manchester police defend prosecution of two mentally ill people – The Guardian

‘A police force has defended its decision to prosecute two mentally ill women who were charged after they caused traffic jams when trying to kill themselves.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 22nd May 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Anger as man who abused girlfriend is spared prison by judge who told him there are ‘lots more fish in the sea’ – The Independent

‘A man who has been convicted of coercive control has been spared prison after a judge told him to leave his ex-girlfriend alone because there are “lots more fish in the sea”.’

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The Independent, 8th May 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Solicitor convicted over cannabis farm suspended from practice – Legal Futures

‘A solicitor has been suspended from practice after being convicted of allowing a small cannabis farm to grow in her house.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 23rd April 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Abolishing short prison sentences will let ‘thousands of hardened criminals avoid jail’, report claims – The Independent

‘Ministers’ calls for short prison sentences to be abolished would see thousands of hardened criminals avoid jail, a report has claimed.’

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The Independent, 25th February 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

‘Prison isn’t working’: David Gauke calls for end to short jail terms – The Guardian

Posted February 19th, 2019 in community service, news, prisons, recidivists, rehabilitation, sentencing, statistics by sally

‘The justice secretary has said he wants to end short prison sentences because they do not work and hopes that technology and more community sentences will provide better alternatives to jail.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 18th February 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ep. 67: Remediation – Mathew Barnes – Law Pod UK

‘Taken from our recent seminar, ‘Erasure, Remediation and Rights of Appeal in Disciplinary Proceedings’, Mathew Barnes asks the question in his talk about remediation – Can you teach an old dog new tricks?’

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Law Pod UK, 18th February 2019

Source: audioboom.com

Stansted 15: no jail for activists convicted of terror-related offences – The Guardian

‘Fifteen activists convicted of a terrorism-related offence for chaining themselves around an immigration removal flight at Stansted airport have received suspended sentences or community orders.’

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The Guardian, 6th February 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Upper Poppleton ‘dirty’ swimming pool gave 165 stomach bug – BBC News

Posted January 17th, 2019 in community service, health & safety, news, sentencing by tracey

‘A “dirty” swimming pool led to dozens of young children contracting a stomach bug causing diarrhoea, a council said. Inspectors who visited Dolphins Swim School in York saw “brown and green” pool water, with 165 children and parents contracting giardiasis.At York Magistrates’ Court, the swim school’s owner Ryan Griffin admitted health and safety breaches.’

Full Story

BBC News, 16th January 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Student who sparked Newcastle bomb scare with artwork on bridge given community service – The Independent

Posted January 15th, 2019 in bomb hoaxing, community service, news, nuisance, sentencing by tracey

‘A student who sparked a bomb scare by attaching piece of art to a bridge has been sentenced to 90 hours of community service.’

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The Independent, 15th January 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Offenders ‘not getting support they need’ due to decline in pre-sentence reports – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 19th, 2018 in community service, criminal justice, news, reports, sentencing by tracey

‘Fewer pre-sentence reports (PSR) may be linked to the worrying decline in community sentences in England and Wales, according to interim analysis conducted by a justice thinktank. The Centre for Justice Innovation says community sentences are significantly more effective than short-term custodial sentences to reduce reoffending – a key priority for justice secretary David Gauke. However, community sentences have fallen in England, in contrast to other UK jurisdictions.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 19th July 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Diane Abbott: Sentence over racially abusive letter – BBC News

Posted May 3rd, 2018 in community service, malicious communications, news, racism, sentencing by tracey

‘A pensioner who sent a racially abusive letter to MP Diane Abbott has been given a 12-month community order.’

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BBC News, 2nd May 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Chairman’s letter to sentencers on imposition of community and custodial sentences – Sentencing Council

Posted April 27th, 2018 in community service, imprisonment, news, sentencing by tracey

‘Earlier this month, the Chairman of the Sentencing Council, Lord Justice Treacy, wrote to all sentencers to remind them of the requirement to follow the Council’s Imposition of Community and Custodial Sentences Definitive Guideline, which has been in force since February 2017. Courts are statutorily bound to follow sentencing guidelines unless it is in the interests of justice not to do so.’

Full text

Sentencing Council, 24th April 2018

Source: http://sentencingcouncil.judiciary.gov.uk

Lorry driver sentenced for peer’s mobility scooter death – BBC News

‘A lorry driver has been given a 24-week suspended jail sentence for knocking a Labour peer off his mobility scooter and killing him.’

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BBC News, 9th April 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ex-Army sergeant major avoids prison over ‘terrifying sex attack’ on 14-year-old schoolgirl – The Independent

‘An ex-Army sergeant major who carried out a “terrifying” sex attack on a 14-year-old girl has avoided prison.’

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The Independent, 22nd March 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Couple who faked holiday sickness ‘rumbled’ on Facebook – The Guardian

Posted March 6th, 2018 in community service, costs, fraud, holidays, news, suspended sentences by sally

‘A man and a woman who fraudulently claimed they fell ill while on holiday in Turkey, but were “rumbled” by images they posted on social media, have been given suspended jail sentences.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 5th March 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Man sentenced for stirring up hatred against Muslims on Facebook – Crown Prosecution Service

‘A man who posted messages on social media to stir up religious hatred against Muslims has been sentenced.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 7th February 2018

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Surgeon sentenced for burning initials on patients’ livers – Crown Prosecution Service

‘A surgeon has pleaded guilty to assault by beating after burning his initials into the livers of two patients undergoing transplants.’

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 12th January 2018

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Bob Spink handed suspended sentence over election fraud – BBC News

Posted January 8th, 2018 in community service, elections, fraud, news, suspended sentences by sally

‘An ex-Tory and UKIP MP has been given a suspended six-month prison term after being convicted of election fraud.’

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BBC News, 5th January 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Wannabe YouTube star sentenced for ‘tombstoning’ into swimming pool during water polo match – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 9th, 2017 in community service, costs, news, nuisance, sentencing, young persons by tracey

‘A wannabe YouTube star has been convicted after he filmed himself “tombstoning” into a swimming pool during a water polo match in a bid to make money from social media.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 8th November 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Policeman jailed for selling crash data to claims firm – which were sold on to law firms – Legal Futures

‘Two married constables working for Lancashire Police were sentenced last month for stealing police data about car crashes and selling it to claims firms for £363,000.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 8th November 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk