Sentence for importing drugs was wholly appropriate

Court of Appeal dismisses appeal against severity of sentence for importing drugs, on the grounds that: (a) while the judge did not nominate a headline sentence, which would have been the optimum approach, the failure to do so, did not of itself amount to an error in principle; (b) there were significant mitigating factors that gave rise to a reduction in sentence but those factors did not amount to exceptional circumstances that would justify a wholly suspended sentence; and (c) the sentence was within the margin of appreciation afforded to a sentencing judge and wholly appropriate.