A child's apparent consent to sexual activity and proximity to the age of consent are not mitigating factors in sentencing for sexual offences against children under 16. A rolled-up charge covering multiple acts of sexual penetration is, other things being equal, more serious than a single offence charge, and the sentencing court must account for the criminality of all acts covered. The term 'composite charge' should be avoided in favour of 'rolled-up charge' or 'representative charge'.
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