Gardner v Regina [2003] NSWCCA 199

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION : Gardner v Regina [2003] NSWCCA 199 HEARING DATE(S) : 15/7/03 JUDGMENT DATE : 13 August 2003

JUDGMENT OF : Sheller JA at 1; James J at 7; O'Keefe J at 8 DECISION : (i) Leave to appeal granted; (ii) Appeal dismissed, except in relation to the disqualification of the applicant from holding a motor vehicle driver license for life; (iii) Order disqualifying the applicant from holding a motor vehicle driver license for life quashed; (iv) In lieu thereof the applicant is disqualified from holding a motor vehicle driver license until 2 January 2017.

CATCHWORDS : Criminal law - Appeal against sentence - Assault with intent to rob whilst armed with a dangerous weapon - Robbery whilst armed with a dangerous weapon - Plea of guilty - Assistance to authorities - Quality of assistance - Discount for utilitarian value of plea - Discount for assistance given to authorities - Disqualification from holding a motor vehicle driver license - No power to impose disqualification for life for other than habitual traffic offenders - Longer period of disqualification - Period Crimes Act 1900 - s 97(2) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 - s 34 LEGISLATION CITED : Motor Traffic Act 1909-1937 - s 10(1)(c) Road Transport (Driver Licensing) Act 1999 - ss 25, 25A(7)(b), 25A(1)(b), Road Transport (General) Act - ss 5, 24, 25(1), 25(2)(d), 30(2) Road Transport (Safety and Management) Act 1999 - ss 40, 42 ASIC v Parkes [2001] NSWSC 377 Barbaro v DPP (1999) 49 NSWLR 68 Corporate Affairs Commission (SA) v Australian Central Craig Williamson Pty Limited v Barrowcliff (1915) VLR 450 Credit Union (1985) 157 CLR 201 Ex parte Thomas re Arnold (1996) 84 WN (Pt 1) (NSW) 493 Lace v Chantler (1944) 1 KB 369 McLeish v FT Eastment & Sons Pty Limited (1970) 71 SR (NSW) 178 Ministry of Health v Fox (1950) 1 Ch 369 Re Lehrer and the Real Property Act (1961) SR (NSW) 365 CASES CITED : Regina v Abbott (1964) 1 QB 489 Regina v Jolly (1993) 70 A Crim R 527 Regina v Simpson (2001) 53 NSWLR 704 Regina v Thomson; Regina v Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 Regina v Tunde-Olarinde (1967) 2 All ER 491 Regina v Wallace (1955) NIR 137 Registrar of Titles (WA) v Franzon (1976) 50 ALJR 4 Rex v Fowler (1937) 26 Cr App R 80 Scott v Commercial Hotel Merbein Pty Limited (1930) VLR 25 Sherritt Gordon Mines Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation (1977) VR 342 Slazengers (Australia) Pty Ltd v Burnett (1951) AC 13 PARTIES : Ricky Gardner v Regina FILE NUMBER(S) : CCA 60121/03 COUNSEL : Applicant: Mr H Dhanji Respondent: Mr D Howard SOLICITORS : Applicant: D J Humphreys (Legal Aid Commission of NSW) Respondent: Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW)