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CCRC refers sentence to the Court of Appeal following review of new medical evidence 

Published:

The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) has referred a woman’s sentence to the Court of Appeal because a review found that new medical information raises a real possibility the Court will find that the sentence was manifestly excessive and reduce it.   

Ms Z pleaded guilty in 2022 to multiple counts of cruelty to persons under 16 and received a sentence of six years’ imprisonment. The CCRC received an application to review the sentence in March 2023.  

The CCRC has concluded that new medical evidence obtained by the CCRC indicates that Ms Z’s functioning had been impaired during the indictment period, and that there was a connection between her medical condition and offending behaviour.  

This new evidence raises a real possibility that the Court of Appeal will find that the sentence of six years’ imprisonment was manifestly excessive. 

[ENDS]

Notes to Editors: 

  1. This release has been anonymised due to safeguarding concerns.  
  1. The CCRC is an independent body set up under the Criminal Appeal Act 1995. It is responsible for independently reviewing suspected and alleged miscarriages of criminal justice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is based in Birmingham and is funded by the Ministry of Justice.     
  1. There are currently nine Commissioners who bring to the CCRC considerable experience from a wide variety of backgrounds. Commissioners are appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Prime Minister in accordance with the Office for the Commissioner for Public Appointments’ Code of Practice.  
  1. The CCRC usually receives around 1,500 applications for reviews (convictions and/or sentences) each year. Since starting work in 1997, the CCRC has referred around 3% of applications to the appeal courts.     
  1. The CCRC considers whether, as a result of new information or a new argument on a point of law, there is a real possibility that the sentence would not be upheld were a reference to be made. New information or argument on a point of law is argument or information which has not been raised during the original sentence hearing or on appeal.  Applicants should usually have appealed first. A sentence can be referred in the absence of an earlier appeal only if there are “exceptional circumstances”.    
  1. If a case is referred, it is then for the appeal court to decide whether the sentence should be changed.       
  1. More details about the role and work of the Criminal Cases Review Commission can be found at www.ccrc.gov.uk. The CCRC can be found on X, Facebook, Instagram (@the_ccrc) and Linkedin.