Judge criticises Novello Noades, chair of the bench at Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court and Justice's clerk's memo

Judge criticises Novello Noades, chair of the bench at Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court and Justice's clerk's memo

"I have considered whether one can seek to apply the definitive guidelines of the recently established Sentencing Council or its predecessor Sentencing Guidelines Council where they exist (and they do so for offences of assault, robbery, burglary of commercial premises and theft). I have also had regard to the generic guidelines, such as those relating to discounts for guilty pleas. The guidelines of the Sentencing Council (which thus far relate to offences of assault) must be followed unless the judge gives reasons for not doing so. In the case of the guidelines of its predecessor, I am required to have regard to them, but may depart from them. Lest there be any doubt in the minds of the media, I have received no advice from anyone in Government or within the Court Service or anywhere else on how I am to treat the Guidelines for the purposes of these cases. Had I done so, I would have ignored it".