Our client appeared in Leeds Magistrates court charged with an offence contrary to section 5A of the Firearms Act 1968 and possessing class A and B drugs.

It was alleged that out client had in her possession a prohibited firearm, a stun gun disguised as a mobile phone. This is an offence which carries a mandatory minimum sentence. Katie Spence, of our Crown Court advocacy team, appeared at the Magistrates Court and identified that our client had been incorrectly charged and should in fact have been charged under section 5B of the act, which has a much lower starting point. Katie made the submissions to the court and the CPS and when the case reached Leeds Crown Court for a PTPH the CPS accepted Miss Spence’s representations and laid the correct count. Our client received a 12 month Community Order instead of a mandatory prison sentence of 5 years.

Katie Spence was instructed by Asmah Khalid and Phil Mahoney of our Leeds Crime team.