Sentence reductions should be less generous if no question of guilt MP

Automatic sentence reductions for guilty pleas should be less “generous” when there is “no question of guilt”, a Conservative MP has said, following calls from the family of a crash victim.

Offenders who plead guilty at the first available opportunity are given a discount of one-third under current sentencing guidelines.

Sir Ashley Fox has argued there should be “a range of discounts available”, as opposed to an automatic reduction, and is supporting calls from Bethany Branson’s family for a review of the “unfair” sentencing system.

The 19-year-old died in November 2022 after her car was hit by a driver who had run a red light.

Luke Hawkes was jailed for 10 years at Taunton Crown Court the following January, after he admitted to causing a death by dangerous driving and failing to provide a specimen.

In bodycam footage, Hawkes can be heard saying “I hope I killed them” as he is put into the back of a police van.

Ms Branson’s mother, Amy Branson, has argued the sentence given to Hawkes was not “severe enough” and has called for judges to be offered a “scale” of reductions.

Speaking to the PA news agency, Sir Ashley, MP for Bridgwater, said: “You can quite see why the courts would wish to reduce sentences for guilty pleas.

“It saves victims having to give evidence, and it saves the court and the police the time and trouble of prosecuting.

“But I think what (the family) would argue, and I would agree with them, is that there should be some flexibility on the part of the judge.”

He added: “When you’ve actually been found at the seat of the van that’s just crashed, and you’re drunk and you’ve recorded a confession, your chance of acquittal is close to zero, isn’t it?

“So that person pleading guilty, should they be entitled to the same one-third discount?

“I think the sentencing magistrate or judge, clearly a judge in this case, should have flexibility, and there should be a range of discounts available.

“So that, for example, with the driver in this case, because there was no question of his guilt and no prospect of an acquittal, it shouldn’t be a third, it should be a lower amount.”

He continued: “I’m not saying that this individual should get no discount for pleading guilty, but I’m not sure, I think a third is too generous. And that is what we should be discussing.