R v Przemyslaw Libert
[2023] EWCA Crim 1556
R v Marlon Winston Golding
1 September 2023
[2023] EWCA Crim 1036
Court of Appeal
A man was caught with illegal guns and ammo. He tried to bribe people not to tell on him. The judge gave him a long prison sentence and the higher court said that was fair.
Key Facts
- •Marlon Winston Golding pleaded guilty to possessing prohibited firearms and ammunition without a certificate.
- •The firearms were discovered by workmen in Golding's garden and later, additional firearms and ammunition were found in his car.
- •Golding attempted to bribe the workmen to not report the findings.
- •Golding had a previous conviction for similar offenses.
- •The sentencing judge imposed a 9-year prison sentence (7.5 years concurrent for counts 1 & 2, 6 months concurrent for count 4, and 18 months consecutive for count 3).
Legal Principles
Possession of prohibited firearms and ammunition without a certificate.
Firearms Act 1968, sections 5(1), 1(1)(a), 1(1)(b)
Totality principle in sentencing.
Sentencing Guidelines
Consecutive sentences may be appropriate for offences of the same or similar kind where concurrent sentences would not sufficiently reflect the overall criminality.
Sentencing Guidelines
Credit for guilty pleas.
Sentencing Guidelines
Outcomes
Appeal against sentence refused.
The court upheld the sentencing judge's decision, finding the sentence to be just and proportionate. The judge's assessment of culpability and harm was deemed correct, and the consecutive sentence for the sawn-off shotgun was justified.
Application for extension of time to renew application for leave to appeal against sentence refused.
The court found the grounds of appeal to be without merit.