561. Duty of court to follow guidelines.

Every court must¹, in sentencing² an offender³, follow any sentencing guidelines⁴ which are relevant to the offender's case⁵ and, in exercising any other function relating to the sentencing of offenders, follow any sentencing guidelines which are relevant to the exercise of the function⁶: this duty⁷ is, however, subject to:

1.  

   (1)     the provisions⁸ restricting the imposition of community sentences⁹;

2.  

   (2)     the provisions¹⁰ restricting the imposition of discretionary custodial sentences¹¹;

3.  

   (3)     the provisions¹² requiring a custodial sentence to be for the shortest term commensurate with the seriousness of the offence¹³;

4.  

   (4)     the provisions¹⁴ requiring a fine to reflect the seriousness of