Read the full judgment text of on BabelCite. was delivered on 11 November 1972.
2. In seeking to put before us what he described as a basic principle in sentencing policy Mr. Sheath, Solicitor General, submitted that a court goes wrong in principle if it assesses a penalty on the basis of what is appropriate to the offender, and does so without regard to the requirements of public interest if public interest itself calls for an exemplary sentence with the purpose of deterring others in order to afford protection to potential victims.