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Frances Ridout successfully argues to extend ‘the Afonso principle’ to alcoholics

On the 28th May 2010, the Court of Appeal found "considerable force" in Frances Ridout's submissions that alcoholics who supply class A drugs to fund an alcohol addiction should be treated on a par with drug addicts who supply solely to fund their own drug addiction. This was the first time the Court of Appeal had specifically considered the more lenient sentencing bracket (outlined in R v Afonso) in relation to alcoholics, and the court praised her "very well presented and helpful" arguments.

The defendant was originally given a sentence of three years imprisonment for supplying an undercover officer with a single wrap of heroin (street Value £10) in exchange for money to purchase alcohol. This was reduced on appeal to a sentence of two years.

For a full reported judgement please see R v Stanford [2010] EWCA 1388

2 June 2010

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