An effective total sentence of 20 years imprisonment for 44 counts of sexual penetration of two de facto stepdaughters aged 12-15 was reduced to 16 years where the offending, though very serious, did not involve very young children, pregnancies, or physical injury, and where uncharged acts may have improperly influenced the sentencing judge's assessment. A starting point of 12-14 years per offence was held excessive for this category of offending. The case provides a useful compendium of comparable sentences for sexual offences against children within a family environment.
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