24Reports about supervised personsS
In section 203 (reports) of the 1995 Act, after subsection (1) there is inserted—
“(1A)However, if there is available to the court a report from a local authority—
(a)of the kind described in subsection (1)(b) above; and
(b)which was prepared in relation to the person not more than 3 months before the person was convicted of the offence,
the court need not obtain another report of that kind before disposing of the case unless it considers, following representations made by or on behalf of the person as to the person's circumstances, that it is appropriate to obtain another report.
(1B)Nothing in subsection (1) or (1A) above requires the court to obtain a report if the court is satisfied, having regard to its likely method of dealing with the case before it for disposal, that the report would not be of any material assistance.”.