R v Fartun Jamal
[2023] EWCA Crim 329
R v Louise Lennon
12 March 2024
[2024] EWCA Crim 319
Court of Appeal
A mother was jailed for 10 years for not protecting her baby from his abusive partner. She appealed, but the court said the sentence was fair, even though the judge may have made a small mistake. The mother knew about the abuse but did nothing to stop it and even lied to cover it up.
Key Facts
- •Louise Lennon and her partner, Jake Drummond, were tried at the Central Criminal Court for charges related to the death of Lennon's 15-month-old son, Jacob.
- •Lennon pleaded guilty to cruelty to a person under 16 and was convicted of causing or allowing the death of a child.
- •Drummond was convicted of murder and wounding with intent.
- •Jacob suffered multiple injuries over a period of time, including severe head injuries, which ultimately caused his death.
- •Lennon knew about the injuries but did not prevent or report them, and actively lied to cover up the abuse.
- •Lennon was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment for causing or allowing the death of a child, with a concurrent six-year sentence for cruelty.
- •Lennon appealed her sentence, arguing it was manifestly excessive.
Legal Principles
Application of sentencing guidelines when the statutory maximum penalty changes after the offence but before the guideline comes into effect.
R v AZT [2023] EWCA Crim 1277
Sentencing guidelines for causing or allowing the death of a child apply to both causing and allowing, and do not assume one is always less serious than the other.
Sentencing Council's relevant definitive sentencing guidelines
Outcomes
The appeal was dismissed.
The court found no arguable basis to suggest the sentence was manifestly excessive. While acknowledging a potential element of double-counting in the sentencing judge's consideration of prolonged suffering, this was balanced by other aggravating factors and the judge's proper consideration of mitigating factors.