(1)[F1Subject to sections 205A and 205B of this Act,] a court may, if it appears to meet the justice of the case, dismiss with an admonition any person convicted by the court of any offence.
(2)Where a person is convicted on indictment of an offence (other than an offence the sentence for which is fixed by law), if it appears to the court, having regard to the circumstances including the nature of the offence and the character of the offender, that it is inexpedient to inflict punishment F2. . . it may instead of sentencing him make an order discharging him absolutely.
(3)Where a person is charged before a court of summary jurisdiction with an offence (other than an offence the sentence for which is fixed by law) and the court is satisfied that he committed the offence, the court, if it is of the opinion, having regard to the circumstances including the nature of the offence and the character of the offender, that it is inexpedient to inflict punishment F2. . . may without proceeding to conviction make an order discharging him absolutely.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 246(1) inserted (20.10.1997 for specified purposes and otherwise prosp.) by 1997 c. 48, ss. 62(1), 65(2), Sch. 1 para. 21(31); S.I. 1997/2323, art. 3, Sch. 1
F2Words in s. 246(2)(3) repealed (1.2.2011) by Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 13), ss. 14(2), 206(1), Sch. 2 para. 26; S.S.I. 2010/413, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Ss. 246, 247 excluded by 2007 c. 27, s. 36A(5)(6) (as inserted (1.3.2016) by Serious Crime Act 2015 (c. 9), s. 88(1), Sch. 1 para. 25; S.I. 2016/148, reg. 3(f))
C2S. 246 excluded (26.5.2016) by Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 (c. 2), ss. 32(6)(b), 63(2); S.I. 2016/553, reg. 2
C3S. 246(1)(2) restricted (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 40, ss. 4, 7(2), Sch. 3 Pt. II para. 9
(1)Subject to the following provisions of this section, a conviction of an offence for which an order is made [F3discharging the offender] absolutely shall be deemed not to be a conviction for any purpose other than the purposes of the proceedings in which the order is made and of laying it before a court as a previous conviction in subsequent proceedings for another offence.
(2)Without prejudice to subsection (1) above, the conviction of an offender who is F4... discharged absolutely as aforesaid shall in any event be disregarded for the purposes of any enactment which imposes any disqualification or disability upon convicted persons, or authorises or requires the imposition of any such disqualification or disability.
(3)Subsections (1) and (2) above shall not affect any right to appeal.
(4)Where a person charged with an offence has at any time previously been discharged absolutely in respect of the commission by him of an offence it shall be competent, in the proceedings for that offence, to lay before the court the order of absolute discharge in like manner as if the order were a conviction.
(5)Where an offender is discharged absolutely by a court of summary jurisdiction, he shall have the like right of appeal against the finding that he committed the offence as if that finding were a conviction.
F5(6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F3Words in s. 247(1) substituted (28.3.2011) by Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 13), s. 206(1), sch. 7 para. 59(a); S.S.I. 2011/178, art. 2, sch.
F4Words in s. 247(2) repealed (28.3.2011) by Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 13), s. 206(1), sch. 7 para. 59(b); S.S.I. 2011/178, art. 2, sch.
F5S. 247(6) repealed (28.3.2011) by Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 13), s. 206(1), sch. 7 para. 59(c); S.S.I. 2011/178, art. 2, sch.
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Ss. 246, 247 excluded by 2007 c. 27, s. 36A(5)(6) (as inserted (1.3.2016) by Serious Crime Act 2015 (c. 9), s. 88(1), Sch. 1 para. 25; S.I. 2016/148, reg. 3(f))
C4S. 247 excluded (26.5.2016) by Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 (c. 2), ss. 32(6)(b), 63(2); S.I. 2016/553, reg. 2
C5S. 247 excluded (31.12.2020) by European Union (Future Relationship) Act 2020 (c. 29), ss. 6(2)(a), 40(7); S.I. 2020/1662, reg. 2(f)
C6S. 247(1) excluded (1.5.2004) by Sexual Offences Act 2003 (c. 42), ss. 134(1)(c), 141 (with s. 134(2)(3)); S.S.I. 2004/138, art. 2
C7S. 247(1)(2) excluded (6.4.2010) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), ss. 158(3)(c), 182 (with s. 180); S.I. 2010/816, art. 2, Sch. para. 11
C8S. 247(1)(2) excluded by 2005 asp 16 s. 129(5) (as inserted (28.3.2011) by Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 13), ss. 24(5), 206(1); S.S.I. 2011/178, art. 2, sch.)
C9S. 247(1) excluded by 2005 asp 16 s. 96(2A) (as inserted (28.3.2011) by Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 13), ss. 24(4), 206(1); S.S.I. 2011/178, art. 2, sch.)
C10S. 247(1) excluded (28.11.2011) by Double Jeopardy (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 16), ss. 1(1)(4)(a), 17(3) (with s. 14); S.S.I. 2011/365, art. 3