For the offence of attempting to pervert the course of justice involving false reports to police in the context of insurance fraud, sentences in the range of 6 to 17 months' imprisonment (pre-transitional) or 4 to 11 months (post-transitional) are appropriate for 'false name' type cases, with more serious cases attracting higher sentences. The case confirms that hardship to innocent third parties (such as a young child) will not substantially mitigate sentence absent exceptional circumstances. The question of whether the sentencing judge should have suspended the sentences was left unresolved as between the majority and Wheeler JA.
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