Where an offender enters early guilty pleas in the Local Court that save the Crown from complex trials, a sentencing judge who departs significantly from the guideline expectation of approximately 25% discount must give adequate reasons for doing so. A bare assertion that the plea warranted only 15% without explanation is insufficient. A sentencing judge's reference to prior leniency by other courts, without knowledge of the facts of those earlier matters, has no valid foundation and cannot justify increasing the current sentence.
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