PART XI Sentencing
Imprisonment, etc.
204 Restrictions on passing sentence of imprisonment or detention.
1
A court shall not pass a sentence of imprisonment or of detention in respect of any offence, nor impose imprisonment, or detention, under section 214(2) of this Act in respect of failure to pay a fine, on an accused who is not legally represented in that court and has not been previously sentenced to imprisonment or detention by a court in any part of the United Kingdom, unless the accused either—
a
applied for legal aid and the application was refused on the ground that he was not financially eligible; or
b
having been informed of his right to apply for legal aid, and having had the opportunity, failed to do so.
2
A court shall not pass a sentence of imprisonment on a person of or over twenty-one years of age who has not been previously sentenced to imprisonment or detention by a court in any part of the United Kingdom unless the court considers that no other method of dealing with him is appropriate; and for the purpose of determining whether any other method of dealing with such a person is appropriate the court shall obtain (from an officer of a local authority or otherwise) such information as it can about the offender’s circumstances; and it shall also take into account any information before it concerning the offender’s character and physical and mental condition.
3
Where a court of summary jurisdiction passes a sentence of imprisonment on any such person as is mentioned in subsection (2) above, the court shall state the reason for its opinion that no other method of dealing with him is appropriate, and shall have that reason entered in the record of the proceedings.
4
The court shall, for the purpose of determining whether a person has been previously sentenced to imprisonment or detention by a court in any part of the United Kingdom—
a
b
construe detention as meaning —
i
in relation to Scotland, detention in a young offenders institution or detention centre;
ii
in relation to England and Wales a sentence of youth custody, borstal training or detention in a young offender institution or detention centre; and
iii
in relation to Northern Ireland, detention in a young offenders centre.
5
This section does not affect the power of a court to pass sentence on any person for an offence the sentence for which is fixed by law.
6
In this section—
“legal aid” means legal aid for the purposes of any part of the proceedings before the court;
“legally represented” means represented by counsel or a solicitor at some stage after the accused is found guilty and before he is dealt with as referred to in subsection (1) above.