Director of Public Prosecutions v Gordon (a Pseudonym)

The Director of Public Prosecutions sought to appeal the sentencing of Gordon (a pseudonym), who had pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual assault of a child under the age of 16. Gordon had no criminal history. The trial judge had sentenced Gordon to a community corrections order, which the Director considered inadequate. The appeal was heard in the Queensland Court of Appeal. The court was required to determine whether the trial judge's sentence was manifestly inadequate, and if so, what sentence should be imposed instead.

The court noted that the trial judge had considered the relevant sentencing principles and had taken into account Gordon's lack of a criminal history and the fact that he had pleaded guilty. However, the court considered that the trial judge had not given sufficient weight to the seriousness of the offences, which involved multiple victims and had a significant impact on them. The court held that the sentence was manifestly inadequate and substituted a sentence of imprisonment for a period of six years, with a non-parole period of four years. The court emphasised that the sentence reflected the seriousness of the offences and the need to protect the community.

The appeal was allowed, and the sentence was substituted. The court ordered that Gordon be imprisoned for a period of six years, with a non-parole period of four years. The court also ordered that Gordon be registered as a sex offender for a period of 15 years. The court noted that the sentence reflected the seriousness of the offences and the need to protect the community. The court considered that the sentence was appropriate in the circumstances and did not make any further orders.