Polley v R [2015] NSWCCA 247

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Polley v R [2015] NSWCCA 247 Hearing dates: 28 July 2015 Decision date: 11 September 2015 Before: Hoeben CJ at CL at [1] Price J at [53] Fagan J at [54] Decision: (1) Grant leave to appeal. (2) The appeal is dismissed. Catchwords: SENTENCE APPEAL – two offences of supplying a prohibited drug – pleas of guilty – MDMA and methylamphetamine – finding of drug trafficking "to a substantial degree" – strong subjective case – good prospects of rehabilitation – nevertheless custodial sentence inevitable – whether applicant's strong subjective case properly taken into account – whether strong subjective case amounted to "exceptional circumstances" – whether sentence manifestly excessive – circumstances of offending required that effect be given to general deterrence – applicant's strong subjective case did not amount to exceptional circumstances – proper exercise of sentencing discretion – appeal dismissed. Legislation Cited: Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 – s 25(1) Mental Health (Forensic Provisions) Act 1990 Cases Cited: Bland v R [2014] NSWCCA 82 House v R [1936] HCA 40; 55 CLR 499 Markarian v The Queen [2005] HCA 25; 228 CLR 357 R v Cacciola [1998] NSWSC 531; 104 A Crim R 178 R v Cahill [2015] NSWCCA 53 R v Clark (NSWCCA, unreported, 5.3.1990) R v Carrion [2000] NSWCCA 191; 49 NSWLR 149 R v Dodd (1991) 57 A Crim R 349 Regina v Saba [2006] NSWCCA 214 Richardson v R [2013] NSWCCA 218 Smaragdis v R [2010] NSWCCA 276 Wong v R [2001] HCA 64; 207 CLR 584 Yang v R [2012] NSWCCA 49; 219 A Crim R 550 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Christopher Polley – Applicant Regina – Respondent Crown Representation: Counsel: I Lloyd QC/R Webb – Applicant Ms N Adams SC/M Rabsch – Respondent Crown