The standard sentence for sexual penetration of a child under 12 is a factor in the intuitive synthesis in the same way as the maximum penalty — no more, no less — and judges must avoid using it as a starting point for two-stage sentencing. An isolated instance of relatively fleeting digital penetration of a child under 12 falls well below the mid-range for the offence. Where an offender has a traumatic background including childhood sexual abuse and multiple diagnosed psychological conditions, the sentence must reflect a realistic allowance for the impact of mental ill-health, even where no causal connection to the offending is established.
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