At Reading Crown Court today, Tinessa Kaur was privately instructed by Muhammed Ahmed of Dawn Solicitors to represent a client at sentence. The client had been without legal representation since proceedings began.

A key issue was whether a previous burglary conviction was a qualifying dwelling burglary, making the client liable to the mandatory minimum sentence as a third striker. The Crown submitted that it was. Tinessa prepared a meticulous sentencing note and made focused submissions on the previous indictment and the information from Kingston Crown Court.

The court accepted Tinessa’s submissions that, on the information available, it could not be sure the previous offence was a dwelling burglary. It treated the conviction as non-dwelling burglary, so the mandatory minimum did not apply.

Tinessa also made detailed submissions in mitigation. The court imposed a 30-month sentence, suspended for 30 months, for the burglary. The separate 14-day sentence for failing to surrender was treated as time served following the client’s remand in custody. The client was able to leave court and go home today.

The judge expressly commended the care and detail in Tinessa’s sentencing note.