In sentencing for intra-familial child sexual abuse involving repeated offending over an extended period including sexual penetration, a total effective sentence of 12 years' imprisonment is within the appropriate range. Mitigating factors including delay of 14 years, rehabilitation, low risk of reoffending, and guilty plea are of much diminished weight where the dominant considerations are general deterrence and protection of vulnerable children. Earlier authorities such as R v Petchell (1993) no longer constitute a current guide to sentencing in this area.
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