Reduction in Sentence (Credit) for a Guilty Plea and for Assisting the Prosecution

All contents > Part 1 Pleading Guilty > Part 2 Credit for a guilty plea > Part 3 Basis of Plea > Part 4 Changing Plea

“if you plead guilty or indicate a plea of guilty at the first available opportunity (usually your first appearance at the magistrates’ court) you will normally be given 1/3 credit, i.e. a one-third reduction in the sentence which would otherwise have been imposed if you were found guilty at trial.”

On this page:

Credit for a guilty plea
Credit in Murder Cases & Mandatory Minimum Term Sentences
Loss of Credit after Newton Hearing
Credit for assisting the prosecution

Credit for a guilty plea

First available opportunity (one third reduction) - if you plead guilty or indicate a plea of guilty at the first available opportunity (usually your first appearance at the magistrates’ court) you will normally be given 1/3 credit, i.e. a one-third reduction in the sentence which would otherwise have been imposed if you were found guilty at trial.
After the first opportunity (max one quarter reduction) - after this first stage of the proceedings the amount of credit you will receive for a guilty plea