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Robbery – Sentencing children and young people

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

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Sentencing framework

The guideline structures sentencing for robbery committed by children and young people by assessing the seriousness of the offense through its nature and relevant aggravating or mitigating factors. It emphasizes the importance of considering personal circumstances and potential rehabilitative measures over custodial sentences, promoting a welfare-oriented approach that aligns with the needs of younger offenders.

Court

Crown Court / Magistrates

Offence range

Discharge - 12 months

Aggravating factors

  • ·Previous findings of guilt
  • ·Offence committed whilst on bail
  • ·Motivated by hostility towards victim's characteristics
  • ·Significant degree of planning
  • ·Deliberate humiliation of victim
  • ·Threat or use of weapons
  • ·Victim is particularly vulnerable
  • ·Leading role in group offending
  • ·Attempt to conceal identity
  • ·High value goods targeted
  • ·Restraint or degradation of victim

Mitigating factors

  • ·No previous findings of guilt
  • ·Positive character or exemplary conduct
  • ·Participation due to bullying or peer pressure
  • ·Remorse evidenced by reparation
  • ·Little or no planning

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

  1. Step 1 — Assess nature of the offence
  2. Step 2 — Consider aggravating and mitigating factors
  3. Step 3 — Consider personal mitigation
  4. Step 4 — Account for guilty pleas
  5. Step 5 — Review the sentence
  6. Step 6 — Consider ancillary orders

Guideline notes

  • The court must ensure the sentence is appropriate considering the likelihood of reoffending.

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.