Henry, Deborah

Deborah Henry was convicted in March 1998 of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and received a sentence of four years’ imprisonment.

The CCRC received an application for review of Ms Henry’s sentence in May 1999.

Ms Henry was pregnant when sentenced. Following review, the CCRC concluded that the sentencing court had not properly appreciated how limited the arrangements were for the care of Ms Henry’s child.

Ms Henry had been separated from her child following a breach of discipline in a mother and baby unit.

The length of her sentence threatened to cause another separation before her release but the judge when passing sentence could not have known that there was no stable source of care for the child.

The CCRC considered that there were compassionate grounds for a reduction of Ms Henry’s sentence, namely the effect on her daughter of further separation.

This view was supported by fresh expert psychiatric evidence.

The CCRC referred the sentence in September 1999.

The Court of Appeal reduced Ms Henry’s sentence in October 1999.