Where an offender has demonstrated significant rehabilitation over a period of 15-20 years since offending, and is of advanced age at sentencing for historical sexual offences, the appropriate amelioration may be a recommendation for post-prison community based release rather than a reduction in the head sentence, particularly where the offending involved extreme violence. A head sentence of eight years was not manifestly excessive for the rape of a 12-year-old involving threats with a knife, chainsaw and rifle by an offender in loco parentis, even where the offences occurred 35 years before sentencing.
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