Where sexual offending against children falls into the worst category, there is no applicable sentencing standard and the court must fix a sentence proportionate to the gravity of the crimes. The sentencing standard in R v D applies only to the ordinary run of cases. Where an offender's good character and position of trust were the instruments by which the crimes were committed, only limited credit can be afforded for prior good character. Harsh prison conditions arising from the nature of the offender's crimes have less mitigatory effect than conditions arising from assisting the administration of justice. Parents of child victims are victims entitled to furnish victim impact statements, but opinions about penalty in such statements should be disregarded.
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