When sentencing for historical sexual offences, the court must have regard to the range of sentences imposed at the time the offences were committed, not contemporary sentencing standards. A sentencing judge must fix an appropriate sentence for each individual offence before considering cumulation, and must not use the structuring of cumulative sentences as a vehicle to artificially increase the effective maximum penalty. Special circumstances including age, first time in custody, need for rehabilitation, and service of sentence in segregation require reasons if no allowance is made for them.
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