Remarks on sentence
21 Her Honour first considered the objective seriousness of the offence (ROS 6.3) and in particular the need for general deterrence. Her Honour referred to the observation in R v Fisher (1989) 40 A Crim R 442 that sexual assaults upon young children, especially by those who stand in positions of trust to them, must be severely punished and that those who engage in this evil conduct must go to gaol for a long period, not only to punish them but also to endeavour to deter others who may have similar inclinations.
22 Her Honour had regard to the principle of specific deterrence. She did so because of the similarity between the two offences and the fact that the applicant had not been deterred by his conviction for the similar offence in November 2002. Her Honour took the applicant's incorrect and exculpatory explanations of his conduct which were given to doctors as indicating a lack of contrition and remorse.
23 In relation to the offence itself her Honour took as her starting point (ROS 9.1) that the legislature had provided for a standard non-parole period of 5 years. As to whether that standard non-parole period should apply, her Honour had regard to R v Way (2004) 60 NSWLR 168 at [118]:
"That question will be answered by considering:
(i) The objective seriousness of the offence, considered in the light of the facts, which relate directly to its commission, including those which may explain why it was committed, so as to determine whether it answers the description of one that falls into the mid range of seriousness for an offence of the relevant kind;
(ii) The circumstances of aggravation and of mitigation which are present in the subject case, or which apply to the particular offender, as listed in s21A(2) and (3), and as incorporated by the general provisions of s21A(1)(c) and by the concluding sentence to s21A(1)."
24 Her Honour noted that in accordance with R v Way the standard non-parole period would only apply where the offender was convicted after trial. In this case a plea of guilty had been entered on the first day of the trial and accordingly the standard non-parole period was not strictly applicable. Because that plea had not been entered at the earliest opportunity, her Honour was only prepared to give the applicant the benefit of a discount of 15%.
25 In accordance with R v Way her Honour then had regard to aggravating and mitigating factors in accordance with s21A of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act. Her Honour took as aggravating features (ROS 12.3) the prior conviction for a substantially similar offence, the fact that the applicant was in a position of trust in relation to the victim and the vulnerability of the victim. Her Honour concluded (ROS 12.9):
"Further, this is a victim who is particularly vulnerable. This is a victim who was very young, at the age of twelve; and relevantly placed in a vulnerable position. She was, at his invitation, in his house with a history of having been in the house at his invitation. It is, however, again relevant to note that the vulnerability is, in this context in part by position and in part equally by virtue of the relationship. It is not appropriate to take into account the age per se, since the victim's age is in fact the essence of this charge.
Accordingly, although both factors (k) and (l) of s21A(2) are activated to some degree, they are for the purposes the one factor; and the one factor which must be read with some caution, having regard to the overall circumstances."
26 Her Honour also had regard to the fact that the victim had suffered considerable emotional harm, although that was resolving at the time of sentence. Other aggravating factors identified were that there was some degree of planning involved and that the offence had been committed whilst the applicant was on a bond.
27 In relation to mitigating factors her Honour was only prepared to allow in the applicant's favour his plea of guilty.
28 In relation to subjective circumstances, her Honour had regard to the applicant's age (which she thought was 67 but in fact was 69), his poor health, his good character up to November 2002 when the first offence occurred, and the effect on him of the death of his wife. Her Honour also noted that the applicant's daughter had returned from overseas and was now in a position to provide care for him so that he would no longer be living in a socially isolated condition as he was before the offences.
29 Taking all those matters into account her Honour concluded that the offence objectively should be placed in the mid-range of the class of offences under s61M(1) and that it would normally attract the standard non-parole period. Her Honour's conclusions were (ROS 27):
"Having regard, however, to the subjective matters which have been discussed, it seems to me that this is a case in which, despite the obvious problems of health there are no relevant special circumstances which can be called in aid. This is an offender who, save for his benefit of a plea, evidences neither contrition nor remorse, nor any insight nor understanding nor recognition of the severity of the offence or the risk that he poses to the community at large.
He has previously been given the benefit of a bond and that has been of no assistance.
It is, however, the case that this is an offender who, at the age of 67, entered custody for the first time. He enters custody suffering poor health, depressed and anxious, and complaining of a variety of physical problems, and has it seems in the period that he has been in custody suffered a stroke, although the precise effects of that stroke are somewhat difficult to ascertain. It would seem to me that, but for the benefit of the plea, the appropriate sentence here would be a non-parole period of approximately 56 months. That, however, is a sentence which must be reduced by 15%, having regard to the sentence and benefit of plea.
In the circumstances it seems to me that the appropriate non-parole period to be imposed, which is a sentence which must be increased and is increased having regard to the aggravating factor of the prior conviction and the offence on bond, the non-parole period that should properly be imposed for this offence is a non-parole period of 3 years 11 ½ months."
30 Her Honour then determined the balance of the sentence, ie the parole period, by dividing the non-parole period which she had assessed by one-third. It is by that mechanism that her Honour calculated the components of the sentence which was imposed.