An offender's history of childhood sexual abuse can only reduce moral culpability in sentencing if the offender demonstrates on the balance of probability that the abuse contributed to the offending. A sentencing judge's finding that the evidence does not establish such a causal connection is not erroneous merely because a statistical correlation exists between childhood abuse and adult offending. Sentences for sexual offences against multiple young children involving indecent assault and procuring for pornographic purposes, with an effective non-parole period of 4 years, were within the range of sound discretion.
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