Sentencing statistics do not by themselves establish a sentencing practice and undue reliance on average or median sentences has the capacity to distort sentencing in particularly serious cases. A sentence of 4 years for a serious stranger rape at knifepoint of a 15-year-old victim, representing only 16% of the maximum penalty, was manifestly inadequate. Youth and deprived background, while significant mitigating factors, cannot overwhelm the sentencing process where very serious offences are involved and the offender presents a high risk of reoffending.
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