Check My Case
S — Pre-court 'Check My Case' avoided guilty plea panic
Facing trial with vague advice from his own solicitor, S needed a realistic view of likely sentence on conviction before making any plea decision.
Before
Facing Crown Court trial
After our review
Clear, honest expectations
Case summary
S was awaiting trial in the Crown Court and terrified about what sentence he might receive if convicted. His own solicitor had given only vague answers about 'possible custody'.
We reviewed the charge sheet and prosecution case summary and worked through the relevant sentencing guidelines step by step. We set out the realistic sentencing bracket on conviction, and the credit available for an early plea.
Armed with that information, S and his family could make a properly informed decision about plea and instructions — rather than guessing under pressure.
Outcome — S received a clear, written assessment of where he stood. He proceeded with a fully informed strategy and avoided making a decision out of fear of the unknown.
How the review unfolded
- 1
Day 1 — Instruction
S's family sent through the charge sheet and prosecution case summary.
- 2
Day 2 — Guideline mapping
We mapped the alleged conduct against the relevant sentencing guideline.
- 3
Day 4 — Written assessment
A plain-English report set out realistic sentencing brackets, with and without plea credit.
- 4
Pre-trial
S and his legal team made an informed plea decision based on the assessment.
Options we identified
Every case is different. These are the realistic options the review surfaced for this matter — not a guarantee of the same outcome in another case.
Realistic sentence bracket
An honest range of likely sentences on conviction, not a worst-case guess.
Plea credit modelling
What plea credit at each stage (first hearing, PTPH, day of trial) would mean in months.
Trial vs plea trade-off
A clear-eyed view of the trade-off between contesting the charge and pleading early.
Working alongside leading UK barristers and KCs
Absolute discretion — your case is never discussed publicly
A fraction of the cost of high-street firms
Start your case review
Could the same approach work for your case?
Tell us a little about your matter and a senior reviewer will respond confidentially within one working day. Your enquiry will be reviewed in the context of Pre-court / before you plead.
- Fixed-price, written review — no open-ended fees.
- Senior reviewers who work alongside leading UK barristers and KCs.
- Absolute discretion — your case is never discussed publicly.
Other case studies
Check My Case for Appeal
Bradley — 17 years reduced to 9 years 4 months
A leading firm had been paid over £40,000 and advised against appeal. Our independent review identified clear arguable grounds that cut Bradley's sentence almost in half.
Read case study
Check My Case for Appeal
M — Excessive sentence challenged on guideline grounds
An 8-year sentence after a guilty plea felt disproportionate. A guideline-by-guideline review showed the wrong category had been used and key mitigation had been overlooked.
Read case study
Check My Options on Release
R — Family of a serving prisoner, options on release
R's family had conflicting information about licence conditions and recall. We produced a single plain-English document covering exactly what R could and could not do.
Read case study