04/05/2005
Linda Walker granted conditional discharge at Court of Appeal today.
Linda Walker applied for leave to appeal both the conviction on the basis of fresh evidence and to appeal against the sentence.
On 4th May 2005 the Court of Appeal refused leave to appeal the conviction but granted leave to appeal sentence and went on to the full hearing of the matter.
The total sentence of 6 months imprisonment was quashed and instead the Court of Appeal imposed a 12 month conditional discharge. They stated that matters they had taken into account were ?her age, her previous positive good character including the valuable and important contribution to the community she had lived in?. They also made reference to the fact that she was in a fragile mental state, partly due to pressures at work, and also hormonal issues.
The Court referred to the excellent prison report they had received on the appellant.
The Court stated it would have been open to the recorder to take the very exceptional course of imposing a non-custodial sentence and that there was no public interest in the appellant?s incarceration.
Linda Walker was released from Court.
Farrhat Arshad of Garden Court North Chambers appeared for Linda Walker, instructed by Robert Lizars solicitors .
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