A three-year detention order on a juvenile for an offence carrying a five-year maximum was manifestly excessive where the offender had no prior convictions, had rehabilitation prospects, and no co-offender (including an adult co-offender) received as long a period of detention. Youth Justice Principle 17 (detention for the least time justified) operates as a meaningful constraint on juvenile sentencing and must be given real effect alongside the maximum penalty and co-offender parity considerations.
The full text is available to signed-in members, including the 6 later cases that cite this judgment.
3 of the 6 citing cases carry a classified treatment. How each court treated it is available to signed-in members.