A sentence of 5 years' imprisonment for sexual intercourse with a child outside Australia (s 272.8(1) Criminal Code (Cth), max 20 years) and 3 years for sexual activity with a child outside Australia (s 272.9(1), max 15 years) was upheld where the offending involved a relationship with a 15-year-old over approximately one year, the offender was aged 59, and there were significant mitigating factors including early plea, full cooperation, no prior history, and low risk of reoffending. Bare sentencing statistics for different offences carrying similar maximum penalties are not informative comparators.
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