For sexual offences against children involving a single episode of offending by a young offender with psychiatric conditions, extreme remorse, comprehensive admissions, an early guilty plea, and no prior sexual offending, a head sentence of three years' imprisonment with suspension after nine to twelve months and a lengthy operational period falls within the permissible range. The Crown will ordinarily be held to the sentencing position taken at first instance, and new aggravating allegations (such as grooming) cannot be raised for the first time on appeal.
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