Mandatory life sentence for serious crimes of violence

(1) If a person is found guilty of an offence specified in sub-section (4) on more than two occasions, after the commencement of this Act he shall, notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, be sentenced to a mandatory term of life imprisonment unless the court, for special extenuating circumstances to be recorded in writing, determines otherwise. (2) Sub-section (1) shall apply whether a person is convicted of the same offence on the third or subsequent occasion or of any other offence specified in sub-section (4). (3) Where the court refrains from awarding the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment under sub- section (1), it shall sentence the offender in accordance with the law applicable to the relevant offence, including any provision for a mandatory minimum sentence, as if this section had not been enacted. (4) This section applies to the offences of rape, kidnapping, forcible abduction, dangerous harm, maim, use of deadly means of harm, robbery and blackmail.