Court of Appeal allows appeal against the severity of sentence of ten years’ imprisonment with the final two years suspended imposed for the possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply, and substitutes a sentence of seven years with final six months suspended, finding that a reduction due to the plea of guilty should have been towards the higher level of what is usually appropriate.
Criminal law – sentencing – appeal against the severity of ten years’ imprisonment with the final two years suspended imposed for the possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply – s.15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977, as inserted by s.4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1999 – reduction due to plea of guilty should have been towards the higher level of what is usual appropriate – appropriate reduction of the headline sentence would have been three years – sentence of seven years with final six months suspended substituted – appeal allowed.