R v Strachan

In the case of The Queen v Strachan, the defendant, Rae-Chael Reynae Strachan, pleaded guilty to supplying Class A controlled drug, specifically methamphetamine. The maximum penalty for this offence is life imprisonment. The court had to decide whether Strachan should serve a term of imprisonment or if a community-based sentence would be more appropriate. Strachan had supplied methamphetamine in amounts of up to six grams over several transactions, sometimes acting as an intermediary for her ex-partner, who was a large-scale manufacturer of the drug. The court considered various factors, including Strachan's personal circumstances, her previous conviction, her addiction to methamphetamine, and her efforts towards rehabilitation.

The court took into account Strachan's age, her status as a mother of two young children, and her addiction to methamphetamine which began when she was 18. The court was concerned about Strachan's potential to reoffend given her history of drug dependence, but noted her willingness to continue with community-based intervention to support her abstinence from drugs. Strachan had completed an alcohol and drug counselling course and had been assessed as having a low risk of reoffending. The pre-sentence report recommended a sentence of home detention and community work. The court balanced the interests of society and Strachan's personal interests, considering the need to denounce the crime, impose a sentence that might deter others, and provide for Strachan's rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

After considering the arguments presented by both the Crown and Strachan's lawyer, the court set the starting point for Strachan's offending at three-and-a-half years' imprisonment. The court discounted the starting point by 25% to acknowledge Strachan's personal position, including her lack of a significant criminal record, her efforts towards rehabilitation, her remorse, and the needs of her family. The court also gave an additional 25% discount for the entry of pleas of guilty, which led to an end sentence of one year and 10 months' imprisonment. However, the court was satisfied that home detention was appropriate in Strachan's case, as it adequately reflected the punitive aspects of sentencing. The court also imposed a requirement for Strachan to complete 150 hours of community work.