James Thacker instructed by CPS for appeal against sentence in the Court of Appeal

News | Tue 15th Sep, 2015

Due to factual complexities James Thacker was instructed by the CPS Specialist Fraud Division to represent the prosecution in Regina v Shahab Reza, an appeal against sentence.  The defendant had been sentenced to a total of 9 years’ imprisonment in respect of eight different counts; conspiracy to defraud, fraud by false representation, obtaining money transfers by deception and obtaining an exemption from a liability.  These offences arose out of significant and substantial frauds upon the DWP’s Access to Work Scheme, Housing and Council tax benefit, Student Loans and the NHS.

Two Grounds of Appeal were argued; Parity with other convicted defendants and Totality.

Lord Justice Laws, sitting with Mr Justice Mitting and Mr Justice Walker, gave judgment that although the sentences passed by the learned judge were individually sound and unarguable, and parity was dismissed, the total overall sentence should have been 7 1/2 years imprisonment.