CRIMINAL DIVISION
Strand London, WC2A 2LL |
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B e f o r e :
(VICE PRESIDENT OF THE CACD)
MRS JUSTICE WHIPPLE
HIS HONOUR JUDGE LEONARD
(Sitting as a Judge of the CACD)
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R E G I N A | ||
v | ||
PAUL PETER LAKER-JONES | ||
MARK ANTHONY DOUGLAS |
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(Official Shorthand Writers to the Court)
Mr J Rose appeared on behalf of the Applicant Douglas
Mr C Kerr appeared on behalf of the Crown
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Crown Copyright ©
Grounds of appeal
Sentencing
Mr Laker-Jones's appeal
"1. It was reasonable for the learned judge only to give credit of 10 per cent for the guilty plea: the applicant could have tendered a plea at any time after 2 May 2017, but only did so on the first day of trial on 24 May 2017.
2. The applicant received an extended sentence of 13 years' imprisonment for conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary, the custodial element being 9 years.
3. I do not consider it to be arguable that the finding of dangerousness was manifestly excessive. The learned judge took the view that the applicant (and his co-defendant Boyd) were "professional criminals who had committed qualifying offences in the past, and were well prepared to travel the country to commit serious offences". On the basis of the instant offence and the applicant's previous convictions, which were numerous and included offences of both dishonesty and violence, the learned judge was entitled to conclude that the applicant posed a significant risk of serious harm to members of the public. It is clear from his sentencing remarks that the leaned judge had the correct test in mind when making this assessment.