A sentencing judge who derives a starting point primarily by comparison with a single comparable case, rather than conducting an instinctive synthesis of all relevant objective and subjective factors, falls into error. Where an offender voluntarily ceases criminal activity and reports the offence to police, specific deterrence may warrant no weight, and the sentence should encourage such conduct rather than serve as a general deterrent against drug importation. Shorthand expressions such as 'I have taken into account all those matters set out in s 16A' are insufficient to demonstrate proper consideration of sentencing purposes.
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