For sexual offences committed by an 18-year-old against a 14-year-old in the context of a genuine adolescent relationship at school, where the offender is assessed as posing minimal risk of reoffending and has very good prospects of rehabilitation, a community correction order may be within the available sentencing range notwithstanding the inherent seriousness of the offences. The case does not fall within the 'exceptional case' described in Clarkson where consent is relatively freely given, but the gravity and moral culpability may still not warrant imprisonment where the offender's youth and immaturity are significant factors.
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