Bethan Chichester represented Richard Harris in an appeal against sentence. Mr Harris pleaded guilty to three counts of non-dwelling burglary, one count of theft and a further offence of vehicle interference. He was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court to 18 months custody in respect of each burglary count, with 2 counts running concurrently and 1 count running consecutively. Mr Harris also received 4 months imprisonment and 2 months imprisonment in respect of the theft and vehicle interference offences, both to run concurrently. In total, Mr Harris received a sentence of 36 months imprisonment.
Bethan made submissions that the sentence was manifestly excessive and that the sentencing Judge failed to give sufficient weight to the principle of totality in sentencing. Considering the Appeal, the court concluded that the sentence was manifestly excessive and reduced the overall sentence term to a period of 27 months imprisonment.