A sentencing judge cannot give no weight to general deterrence on the basis that potential offenders are likely to be intoxicated at the time of offending. The proposition that deterrence is inapplicable because potential offenders would be intoxicated is a novel sentencing principle that finds no place in the criminal law. An offender's desensitisation to violence may reduce moral culpability but also increases the risk of reoffending, requiring consideration of community protection.
The full text is available to signed-in members, including the 17 later cases that cite this judgment.
8 of the 17 citing cases carry a classified treatment. How each court treated it is available to signed-in members.