The appellant appealed his conviction for sexual assault, arguing the trial judge erred in dismissing his Corbett application to exclude his prior criminal record.
The prior convictions were all for sexual offences and were at least 14 years old.
The Court of Appeal found the trial judge erred by admitting the record simply because credibility was a central issue, without properly balancing the significant prejudicial effect of old, similar convictions against their minimal probative value.
The appeal was allowed and a new trial ordered.
