Prior convictions for drink-driving offences must be given substantial weight in sentencing for culpable driving causing death where alcohol was a contributing factor. A sentencing judge errs by treating old drink-driving convictions as spent and sentencing within the range appropriate to an offender without prior convictions. While a sentence of 5 years for a single-fatality culpable driving offence based on gross negligence without aggravating features may be within range, a considerably higher sentence is required where the offender has a bad drink-driving record.
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