The Sentencing Council issues this definitive guideline in accordance with section 120 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009.
Section 59(1) of the Sentencing Code provides that:
“Every court – (a) must, in sentencing an offender, follow any sentencing guidelines which are relevant to the offender’s case, and (b) must, in exercising any other function relating to the sentencing of offenders, follow any sentencing guidelines which are relevant to the exercise of the function, unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so.”
This guideline applies regardless of the date of the offence to all individual offenders aged 18 and older and to organisations in cases where the first hearing is on or after 1 June 2017. The guideline applies equally in magistrates’ courts and the Crown Court. Guidance on reductions in sentence for a guilty plea for under 18s is contained in the Sentencing Council Overarching Principles – Sentencing Children and Young People guideline to which sentencers should refer.