Sentences of 6 years' imprisonment for rape of a vulnerable victim by a recidivist sex offender with poor rehabilitation prospects were manifestly inadequate, notwithstanding mitigating factors including a guilty plea, advanced age, ill health, and the impact of COVID-19 on prison conditions. The standard sentence of 10 years for rape serves as a guidepost, and sentences significantly below it require adequate justification. For recidivist sex offenders with a history of preying on vulnerable victims, specific deterrence, community protection and denunciation must be given substantial weight.
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