Other Relevant Circumstances
Drug/other addiction
The addiction “ is a factor that may help an offender to the extent of showing that his or her descent into the crime…was a secondary consequence of desperation produced by a human weakness rather than a primary choice…The proposition that the results of drug addiction are self-inflicted are half true and therefore dangerous. The offender must, of course, be held responsible for his/her addiction. The drug addiction is not an excuse; but it is a factor that may tell the court that the real weakness of character is that of a drug addict rather than that of a robber…this may sometimes show the offender to be less deserving of condemnation than the primary facts without more might suggest...It is however a two-edged factor; it may also tell the court that rehabilitation is going to be difficult.” (Hammond [1997] 2 Qd R 195)