Harsh jail terms ‘likely to be changed’

The “hysterical” prison sentences handed down to those convicted of taking part in the recent riots are likely to be subjected to more successful appeals against them, top lawyers have said.

In one recent case, 24-year-old Ursula Nevin, who has two children, was sent to jail for five months – not for rioting or looting but for accepting a stolen pair of trainers from a housemate.

A district judge jailed the young mother last week when she admitted handling stolen goods.

However, a senior judge has now had her released from prison and instead sentenced her to 75 hours of community service, saying that her imprisonment was “wrong in principle”.

Speaking to The Times newspaper, Paul Mendelle QC said: “I suspect this judgment is the start of many other successful appeals. It is the start of a rowing back from some of the more draconian sentences.”

He added that magistrates have gone “over the top” in their sentencing of convicted rioters.

Another QC, criminal barrister John Cooper, told The Times: “There have been some hysterical sentences in the magistrates’ courts for the last week and over the next period we will see the criminal justice system realigning itself.”

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