Where an offender committed sexual offences as a child or young offender and is not sentenced until many years later, the sentencing court must give real weight to the offender's youth at the time of offending, including reduced moral culpability and the diminished role of general deterrence. Where the offender has achieved substantial rehabilitation and has not reoffended over a lengthy period, it would be illogical and unfair to impose a substantially greater sentence than would have been imposed at the time of offending. However, this principle does not apply to adult offenders sentenced for historic sexual offences, where general deterrence and denunciation remain at the forefront regardless of delay.
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