The client was assisted by Charlotte in entering her guilty plea on the basis that she had been taken advantage of by a group of males who had pressured her into committing the offence, and that she was highly vulnerable. The Crown did not seek to challenge this at a Newton hearing and she was sentenced on that basis.

The client was pregnant, mother to three young children, and of complete previous good character. An expert psychiatric report obtained by instructing solicitors detailed the client’s longstanding depression and psychotic episodes, and concluded her mental health problems would be significantly exacerbated within the prison system.

Katie represented her at sentence where the judge was persuaded that exceptional circumstances justified departing from a custodial sentence. Instead, an 18-month Community Order was imposed.