True sentence
Mr Fletcher is not “free”. He received a sentence of a community payback order with two years’ supervision and 200 hours unpaid work.
He will thus be under considerable constraint for the next two years.
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Hide AdIf he is in breach of any conditions of the order he will be brought back to court and could receive a custodial sentence.
Even where an offender receives a fine he or she is not “free” as the court will retain a measure of control until the fine is paid.
The only non-custodial sentences about which it may truly be said that the offender leaves court “free” are an admonition or an absolute discharge.
Alastair L Stewart
Albany Road