Skip to content

Offences taken into consideration

s.120 Coroners and Justice Act 2009 · Crown Court / Magistrates

Back to Offence Library

Sentencing framework

The guideline outlines that when sentencing an offender who has admitted to additional offences, the total sentence must reflect all offending behavior and be just and proportionate. Courts should take into account aggravating factors like the presence of further offences and mitigating factors such as genuine admissions and attempts to reform.

Maximum sentence

Statutory maximum for conviction offence

Court

Crown Court / Magistrates

Starting point

Not specified

Offence range

Statutory maximum for conviction offence

Aggravating factors

  • ·Presence of TICs is generally a factor justifying an upward adjustment from the starting point.
  • ·A large number of TICs may warrant moving outside the category range.

Mitigating factors

  • ·Frank admission of offences may indicate remorse or steps taken to address offending behaviour.
  • ·Reduction for a guilty plea should be applied to the overall sentence.

The sentencing process, step by step

  1. Step 1 — Determine the sentencing starting point for the conviction offence, referring to the relevant definitive sentencing guidelines. No regard should be had to the presence of TICs at this stage.
  2. Step 2 — Consider whether there are any aggravating or mitigating factors that justify an upward or downward adjustment from the starting point.
  3. Step 3 — Continue through the sentencing process including considering the implications of TICs as an aggravating feature.

Guideline notes

  • This guideline primarily outlines general principles and procedural safeguards for taking offences into consideration, rather than providing a specific category matrix.

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.