The mitigatory effect of youth and cognitive impairment in sentencing is not extinguished even where the offending is objectively very serious and the offender has a significant criminal history, provided the case does not involve the gravest criminal offending with no realistic prospect of rehabilitation. A sentence of 3.5 years for attempted armed robbery by an 18-year-old with developmental learning disability and cognitive deficits was manifestly excessive; 2 years 9 months was substituted.
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