Where an accused admits sexual intercourse occurred but disputes consent, the Longman warning and delay-in-complaint direction may be substantially tailored to reflect that the core allegation is not fabricated. A lapse of 27 years since offences, coupled with rehabilitation and blameless life, constitutes a significant mitigating factor in sentencing for historical sexual offences, even where there has been an abuse of trust. Evidence of remorse expressed before trial (including confessions to church community and letters of apology) retains mitigating value notwithstanding a subsequent not guilty plea.
The full text is available to signed-in members, including the 20 later cases that cite this judgment.
3 of the 20 citing cases carry a classified treatment. How each court treated it is available to signed-in members.