A sentence constituting a substantial proportion of the maximum penalty for a course of conduct charge of sexual penetration of a child under 16 is not manifestly excessive, even where the offender is 88 years old with significant health issues and there has been substantial delay, where the offending is very serious and the offender has shown no remorse and did not plead guilty. Advanced age makes a sentence stern but does not render it outside the permissible range.
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