R v Steel [2020] NSWDC 950

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Steel [2020] NSWDC 950 Hearing dates: Wednesday 29 January 2020 Date of orders: Wednesday 29 January 2020 Decision date: 29 January 2020 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Tupman DCJ Decision: The offender is convicted of all offences. Sentenced pursuant to s 53A of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) to two partially accumulated aggregate sentences comprising an overall sentence of 6 years imprisonment with an aggregate non-parole period of 4 years. Two offences on the Form 1 taken into account on one substantive offence. Catchwords: CRIME — Child sex offences — Historical child sex offences — Sexual intercourse with child >14 <16 — Indecent assault of a child >14 <16 — Circumstances of aggravation — Homosexual intercourse with a child >10 <18 — Sexual intercourse without consent – Offender incited victim to commit an act of gross indecency — Two victims — Offender was in a position of trust as Scouts leader of one victim — Offender offered victims drugs and alcohol — Offender made verbal threats to prevent victim from reporting assault — Fellatio — Anal rape — Guilty pleas on all counts after trial had commenced – Prior criminal history — Offender suffered from substance abuse disorder — Offender has achieved complete rehabilitation — Low risk of reoffending — No further criminal offending since 2001 — No further drug use since 2001 — Victim Impact Statement tendered for one victim and taken into account. Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW): ss 61I, 61M(1), 78K, 78Q(2); Crimes (Sentencing Procedure Act 1999 (NSW): ss 5, 25AA, 53A. Cases Cited: R v Cattell [2019] NSWCCA 297 Category: Sentence Parties: Regina (The Queen) Mr. Jeffrey Steven Steel (The Offender) Representation: Counsel: Mr. McCarthy (The Crown) Mr. Gallagher (The Offender) File Number(s): 2018/00189316