The Court of Appeal signalled that earlier decisions imposing non-custodial sentences for indecent dealing with children should no longer be followed, and that imprisonment should ordinarily be imposed for child molestation offences. Denial of guilt and lack of remorse, while not warranting extra punishment, disentitle an offender to the substantial leniency available where there is an admission of guilt. Discrepancies in the evidence of very young complainants about events over a period of years are to be expected and do not necessarily render verdicts unsafe.
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