In sentencing an offender suffering from mental disorder or abnormality (including organic brain damage caused by chronic alcoholism), general deterrence should usually be given very little weight because such an offender is not an appropriate medium for making an example to others. Where there is clear evidence of successful voluntary rehabilitation, the punitive and deterrent aspects of sentencing should not be allowed to prevail so as to destroy the results of that rehabilitation. A sentence of two years' imprisonment (half suspended) for firearms offences committed by a person with organic brain damage, paranoia, and severely impaired judgment was manifestly excessive where the offender had no significant prior record, had voluntarily undertaken successful rehabilitation, and showed genuine remorse.
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