Deliberate concealment of HIV status and unprotected sexual intercourse with multiple victims, following extensive counselling about responsibilities, can properly be categorised as a worst case under s 35(1)(b) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), warranting the maximum penalty as a starting point. In such cases, a discount of approximately 15% for a plea of guilty at the earliest opportunity is within the permissible range, and no discount at all may be appropriate. Cumulative sentences for offences against separate victims are appropriate where failure to accumulate would fail to acknowledge the harm done to individual victims.
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