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Criminal Defence & Appeals Blog

Our criminal defence and appeals team regularly write about related legal topics and breaking news, we welcome your comments on our posts. If you would like more information on our services, please don't hesitate to get in touch on 01616 966 229.

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Imprisonment for Public Protection quashed after 19 years

Correna Platt
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On 6 September 2024, the Court of Appeal quashed an Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentence and substituted a determinate sentence and in the process granted an extension of time of 19 years. Due to the Court of Appeal’s decision that...

Crackdown on use of children in "county lines" drug running

Colin Rawson
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In the King’s Speech, the government announced new legislation designed to help combat the use of children in “county lines” drugs running, in which they are used as mules and sometimes asked to hide illicit substances. Currently,...

Knife crime - understanding the law and your rights

Callum Gaydecki
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In recent years, knife crime in major cities in England and Wales has increased significantly. This increase in crime has understandably led to public concern. This concern has influenced political debate and the way police forces attempt to tackle knife...

Auriol Grey's conviction quashed

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The Court of Appeal ruled that Ms Grey’s conviction for unlawful manslaughter was to be overturned. Ms Grey was convicted of the offence last year after a retrial and was sentenced to three years imprisonment. In 2020 the deceased was cycling on the...

What is a suspended sentence?

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A suspended sentence is a type of prison sentence. It is imposed when a court decides that an offence or series of offences justifies a prison sentence of less than 2 years, but that there are reasons why the sentence need not be served immediately. If...

Is the cost of living crisis causing more parents/guardians to be investigated for child neglect?

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In our crime department we have opened 25% more files for people being investigated by the police for child neglect than in 2022. These cases involve parents or guardians being accused of not having enough food in their homes and dirty and cluttered...

Nitrous oxide - 'laughing gas' becomes class C drug

Martin Pizzey
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The government has declared nitrous oxide (also known as laughing gas) is to become a controlled drug of class C from the 8th November 2023. Penalties for its possession can be up to 2 years imprisonment and supplying it can carry up to 14 years...

Criminal justice takes centre stage in The King's Speech

Colin Rawson
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The King’s Speech, or the State Opening of Parliament, provides the government with an opportunity to set out its legislative agenda for the months ahead. In total, 21 bills, or pieces of legislation, were put forward this year, with criminal justice...

Can I use force to defend myself against an intruder?

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This article deals with Section 76 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 and provides an introduction to the law in relation to self-defence. Imagine a scenario: It’s a Friday evening and you’re relaxing at home watching TV with...

Can I be charged for the same crime twice?

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What is double jeopardy? The legal principle of double jeopardy was that a person who was found by the court to be not guilty of an offence could not be prosecuted again. This principle applied even if new evidence came to light proving that the accused...

Non-fatal strangulation, non-fatal suffocation and the withdrawal of the rough sex defence

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This article deals with two new provisions which have been introduced by the government’s Domestic Abuse Act 2021 into the Serious Crime Act 2015 (section 75A and 75B). On 7 June 2022 legislation creating the specific offences of non-fatal...

What should I do if I am falsely accused of a sexual assault?

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It is that time of year again where people go out with their work colleagues and friends for Christmas parties and meals. Whilst most will enjoy the festivities unfortunately, we have found that Christmas parties can often lead to incidents where sexual...

Is it legal to keep money that you find?

Sean Joyce
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The definition of theft under Section 1 of the Theft Act 1968 is the dishonest appropriation of property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving the owner of it. Picking up cash found on the street (which is the...

Magistrates given greater sentencing powers

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The Criminal Bar Association recently commented upon news that the number of cases waiting to be heard across the Magistrates' and Crown Courts stood at 432,899 in February 2022. This backlog was in part due to the pandemic but also down to...

Can I appeal against my conviction even though I entered guilty pleas ?

Correna Platt
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On the 9 th June 2022 the Court of Appeal quashed the convictions in the case of R V Johnson 2022 EWCA 790. The appellant was represented by Miss Correna Platt  of Stephensons and Mr David Emanuel QC of Garden Court Chambers. The...

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