Drugs – class A – fail to attend/remain for initial assessment

s.12 Drugs Act 2005 · Magistrates

Sentencing framework

The guideline outlines a structured approach to sentencing for offenders aged 18 and older, focusing on the determination of the offence category based on culpability and harm. Sentencing ranges from fines to community orders, and adjustments may be made based on aggravating and mitigating factors.

Maximum sentence

Level 4 fine

Court

Magistrates

Offence range

Band A fine - High level community order

Aggravating factors

·Previous convictions
·Offence committed whilst on bail
·Offence motivated by hostility based on characteristics of the victim
·Failure to comply with current court orders
·Offence committed on licence or post sentence supervision
·Offender’s actions result in a waste of resources

Mitigating factors

·No previous convictions or no relevant/recent convictions
·Remorse
·Positive character and/or exemplary conduct
·Serious medical condition requiring urgent, intensive or long-term treatment
·Age and/or lack of maturity
·Mental disorder or learning disability
·Sole or primary carer for dependent relatives
·Determination and/or demonstration of steps having been taken to address addiction or offending behaviour
·Attempts made to re-arrange appointments
·Pregnancy, childbirth and post-natal care
·Difficult and/or deprived background or personal circumstances
·Prospects of or in work, training or education

Sentencing range explorer

Select the culpability level and harm category to see the guideline's starting point and category range. This is an educational illustration of the published guideline — not a sentence calculation, and not legal advice. Courts apply the full step-by-step process, aggravating and mitigating factors, and the totality principle.

Culpability

Harm

Select a culpability level and a harm category above.

The sentencing process, step by step

Step 1 - Determining the offence category
Step 2 - Starting point and category range
Step 3 - Consider any factors which indicate a reduction
Step 4 - Reduction for guilty pleas
Step 5 - Totality principle
Step 6 - Consider ancillary orders
Step 7 - Reasons

Always read the full guideline

This is a one-page summary. For any live case, sentencing exercise, or legal advice the authoritative source is the Sentencing Council's own definitive guideline — including the category bands, step-by-step sentencing approach, and all statutory factors not captured here.

Open the full guideline on sentencingcouncil.org.uk

Source: Sentencing Council · Crown copyright, licensed under Open Government Licence v3.0. Summary fetched 2026-06-28. Not legal advice — see a regulated adviser for any live case.