For offences of aggravated sexual assault close to the worst category, general deterrence and denunciation are of primary importance and the prominence usually given to youth must give way to these principles. Sentencing judges must apply the Pearce methodology by fixing an appropriate sentence for each offence before considering cumulation, concurrence and totality. Form 1 offences must be given proper weight to reflect overall criminality, not merely noted in passing. Judicial Commission sentencing statistics are a blunt tool for s 61J offences and the median sentence is not a sentencing target.
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