A Sydney magistrate has decided to not record a conviction against our client for assault, due to his prior good character.

Our client, a professional man in his forties, had entered a plea of guilty to assaulting his partner in the family home. He then undertook counselling before the matter returned to court for sentence. Partner Jamie McLachlan submitted to the court that due to our client’s prior good character, lack of a criminal record, the circumstances of the offence, as well as the substantial efforts he had made at rehabilitation, that a conviction should not be recorded.

The magistrate was persuaded, and consequently no conviction was recorded, with our client being placed on a bond to be of good behaviour pursuant to section 10 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999. Our client was very pleased with the outcome.

A criminal conviction can have devastating consequences for a person, particularly with regards to employment and travel. It was very satisfying for Mr McLachlan to have assisted our client to avoid one.

Photo by Klavesakm