UK · EWCACourt order
Court of Appeal says judges sentencing by live link should be rare and cuts fraud sentence for guideline errors
In R v Priestley [2026] EWCA Crim 1284, the Court of Appeal said a judge sentencing by live link, especially where custody is likely, should be rare and administrative convenience is not enough; the resident judge should be consulted, counsel given reasons and a chance to object, and a short ruling uploaded to the digital case system. It cut Frederic Priestley's fraud sentence from 35 to 24 months for harm-category and mitigation errors but refused to suspend it.
Order (The National Archives (Find Case Law)) → · Solicitors Journal, Law Gazette
Key points
- The Inner London recorder sentenced by video without explanation, submissions, or a recorded section 51 direction.The National Archives (Find Case Law)Solicitors Journal
- Circumstances justifying a remote sentencing judge, particularly with a custodial outcome, are likely to be rare; administrative convenience is not enough.The National Archives (Find Case Law)Solicitors JournalLaw Gazette
- The resident judge should be consulted in advance, and counsel must be told the reasons and given an express opportunity to make representations.The National Archives (Find Case Law)Solicitors JournalLaw Gazette
- Any direction should include a short ruling on effective participation and the interests of justice, uploaded to the digital case system.The National Archives (Find Case Law)Solicitors JournalLaw Gazette
- The court cut Priestley's sentence from 35 months to 24 months after finding guideline and mitigation errors, but declined to suspend it.The National Archives (Find Case Law)Solicitors Journal
Sources3 articles across 3 outlets
Law Gazette
Solicitors Journal
The National Archives (Find Case Law)