The offence of maintaining a sexual relationship with a child under s 229B of the Criminal Code (Qld) is a continuing offence committed throughout the period charged, and Part 9A of the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992 applies where the maintaining period straddles the commencement date of Part 9A, provided at least three specific offences within s 229B(2) occurred after commencement. For sentencing, cooperation with police, early guilty pleas via ex officio indictment, and sparing complainants from giving evidence justify significant amelioration of sentence in sexual offence cases, but a sentence of 17 years for offending of this gravity (ten child complainants, offending over decades, positions of trust) was within the appropriate range.
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