GT Stewart today persuaded a Crown Court judge to avoid sentencing a client to an Extended Determinate Sentence (EDS).

MR, a vulnerable longstanding client of the firm, appeared at Wood Green Crown Court having pleaded guilty to blackmail and a dwelling robbery. At the sentencing hearing today, both the Probation Service and a psychologist had determined that MR was ‘dangerous’ subject to the provisions set out in the Criminal Justice Act 2003. Had the client been found as a ‘dangerous’ offender, she would have had to have served two thirds of her sentence and been made subject to an extended period on licence.

However, having heard submissions on MR’s behalf, the judge refused to determine MR as dangerous and she was sentenced to a total of 7 years’ imprisonment.

MR was represented by Kevin Williams of the City of London team, and by Elena Papamichael at court