Sentence imposed for violent carjacking was unduly lenient

Criminal law – sentencing – undue leniency – whether a sentence of three and a half years suspended from the date the sentence was handed down (factoring in back dating) imposed for a violent carjacking was unduly lenient – unlawful seizure of a vehicle contrary to s. 10 of the Criminal Law (Jurisdiction) Act 1976 – assault causing harm contrary to s. 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 – possession of a syringe with intent to injure or to threaten or intimidate, contrary to s. 7(1) and (7) of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997 – s. 2 of the Criminal Justice Act 1993 – whether the sentencing judge failed to determine where the offences fell on the scale of offending to reflect the nature of the offences – whether adequate weight was given to the aggravating factors – sentencing judge was obliged to properly assess the gravity of the case before deciding on how best to give effect to the penal objective of rehabilitation – failure to determine an appropriate headline sentence led to an ultimate sentence that was clearly outside of the norm – sentences were unduly lenient – effective sentence of five years and six months' imprisonment substituted – appeal allowed.