A sentence of 2 years' immediate imprisonment for a single count of indecent dealing with a 2-year-old lineal relative was manifestly excessive where the offender had no prior convictions, entered a fast-track guilty plea, was genuinely remorseful, had a severely dysfunctional childhood, was depressed and intoxicated at the time, cooperated fully with police, and was assessed as low risk of reoffending. A sentence of 12 months' immediate imprisonment with parole eligibility was substituted. The case confirms that custodial terms for single incidents of indecent dealing at the higher end (involving fondling of genitalia) do not customarily exceed 18 months' imprisonment.
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