In accordance with section 120 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, the Sentencing Council issues this definitive guideline. It applies to all individual offenders aged 18 and older and organisations that are sentenced on or after the effective date of this guideline, regardless of the date of the offence. The maximum sentence that applies to an offence is the maximum that applied at the date of the offence.

Section 59(1) of the Sentencing Code provides that:

Every court -

1. must, in sentencing an offender, follow any sentencing guideline which is relevant to the offender’s case, and
2. must, in exercising any other function relating to the sentencing of offenders, follow any sentencing guidelines which are relevant to the exercise of the function,

unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so.

This guideline applies only to individual offenders aged 18 and older or organisations. General principles to be considered in the sentencing of youths are in Sentencing Council’s definitive guideline, the Overarching Principles – Sentencing Children and Young People.