Effective from: 01 October 2019
Care should be taken to avoid double counting factors including those already taken into account in assessing culpability or harm
The factor may apply to reduce the culpability
- of an offender acting alone who has not appreciated the seriousness of the offence or
- of an offender who is acting with others and does not appreciate the extent of the overall offending.
If the offender had genuinely failed to understand or appreciate the seriousness of the offence, the sentence may be reduced from that which would have applied if the offender had understood the full extent of the offence and the likely harm that would be caused.
Where an offender lacks capacity to understand the full extent of the offending see the guidance under ‘Mental disorder or learning disability’.