Patel v R [2022] NSWCCA 93

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Patel v R [2022] NSWCCA 93 Hearing dates: 7 March 2022 Date of orders: 11 May 2022 Decision date: 11 May 2022 Before: Brereton JA at [1]; N Adams J at [79]; Lonergan J at [87]. Decision: (1) Grant leave to appeal; (2) Allow the appeal; and (3) Quash the sentence imposed in the District Court on 8 March 2021 and in lieu thereof sentence the applicant as follows: (a) On Count 1, to a term of imprisonment of three years and six months commencing on 8 July 2020 and expiring on 7 January 2024; (b) On Count 2, to a term of imprisonment of fifteen months commencing on 8 January 2023 and expiring on 7 April 2024; (c) Pursuant to Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) s 19AB(2), fix a non-parole period of two years dating from 8 July 2020, so that he is eligible for release to parole on 7 July 2022. Catchwords: CRIME – Appeals – Appeal against sentence – Commonwealth offences – Requirement to take into account offender's contrition for offence – Distinction between rehabilitation and remorse – Whether offender "downplaying" criminality – Remorse does not require abandoning attempts to identify mitigating factors – Held that sentencing judge did not duly consider offender's contrition – Sentence appeal allowed Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1914 (Cth), ss s 16A(2)(f), 16BA, 19(2), 19AB, 19AD, 19AF, 19AG Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), s 53A Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), s 5(1) Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) ss 11.1(1), 302.4, 307.6 Judiciary Act (Cth), s 68 Sentencing Act (NSW), s 53 Cases Cited: Barbaro v The Queen [2012] VSCA 288; 226 A Crim R 354 Bugmy v R (1990) 169 CLR 525; [1990] HCA 18 Deakin v R [1984] HCA 31; (1984) 54 ALR 765 Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) v Beattie [2017] NSWCCA 301; (2017) 270 A Crim R 556 Dunning v Tasmania [2018] TasCCA 21 El-Ghourani v R [2009] NSWCCA 140; 195 A Crim R 208 Eriyo v R [2015] NSWCCA 16 Hili v R; Jones v R (2010) 242 CLR 520; [2010] HCA 45; 272 ALR 465; 85 ALJR 195 Huynh v R [2021] NSWCCA 148 Jaafar v R [2017] NSWCCA 223 JM v R [2014] NSWCCA 297 Kentwell v The Queen (2014) 252 CLR 601; [2014] HCA 37 Matthews v R [2014] VSCA 291; 44 VR 280; 246 A Crim R 193 Mourtada v R [2021] NSWCCA 211; 290 A Crim R 514; (2021) 361 FLR 96 Omorogbe v R [2013] NSWCCA 201; 234 A Crim R 556 Onourah v R (2009) 76 NSWLR 1; 197 A Crim R 430; 234 FLR 377; 260 ALR 126; [2009] NSWCCA 238 Pearce v The Queen (1998) 194 CLR 610; [1998] HCA 57 Power v R (1974) 131 CLR 623; 48 ALJR 297; 3 ALR 553; [1974] HCA 26 Putland v R (2014) 218 CLR 174; [2014] HCA 8 R v Faber [2020] SASCFC 49; (2020) 283 A Crim R 219 R v Nguyen; R v Pham [2010] NSWCCA 238; (2010) 205 A Crim R 106 R v Wat [2017] NSWCCA 62 Robson-Bolan v R [2022] NSWCCA 1 Spinks v Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) [2021] NSWCCA 308 Waterstone v R [2020] NSWCCA 117 Woods v R [2020] NSWCCA 219 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Dominic Bryce Patel (Applicant) Crown (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr T Edwards (Applicant) Mr R Ranken (Crown)