Richards v R [2023] NSWCCA 107

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Richards v R [2023] NSWCCA 107 Hearing dates: 10 May 2023 Decision date: 19 May 2023 Before: Beech-Jones CJ at CL [1]; Adamson JA at [11]; Price J at [121] Decision: (1) Grant leave to appeal. (2) Dismiss the appeal. Catchwords: CRIME — Appeals — Appeal against sentence — Historical sex offences — whether sentencing judge took adequate account of delay CRIME — Appeals — Appeal against sentence —finding of special circumstances — applicant previously sentenced for historical sex offences - principle of totality — whether total term of continuous imprisonment excessive and parole period inadequate — whether sentencing judge erred by failing to backdate commencement of sentence — alleged manifest excess CRIME — Appeals — Appeal against sentence — whether sentencing judge erred in finding evidence of post-offence good character of little weight CRIME — Appeals — Appeal against sentence — distinction between lack of further convictions and finding that offending behaviour ceased Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 3A, 21A(5A), 25AA, 44(2B), 47(2)(a) Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), ss 61D(1), 61E(1), 61E(1A), 80, 81, 81A Cases Cited: Bugmy v The Queen (2013) 249 CLR 571; [2013] HCA 37 Dinsdale v The Queen (2000) 202 CLR 321; [2000] HCA 54 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 JL v R [2023] NSWCCA 99 JM v R [2014] NSWCCA 297; (2014) 246 A Crim R 528 Kerr v R [2016] NSWCCA 218 Lonsdale v R [2020] NSWCCA 267 Mill v The Queen (1988) 166 CLR 59; [1988] HCA 70 Neal v The Queen (1982) 149 CLR 305; [1982] HCA 55 Postiglione v The Queen (1997) 189 CLR 295; [1997] HCA 26 R v Baker [2000] NSWCCA 85 R v Dennis (Court of Criminal Appeal (NSW), 14 December 1992, unrep) R v Knight [2005] NSWCCA 241; (2005) 155 A Crim R 252 R v MAK; R v MSK [2006] NSWCCA 381; (2006) 167 A Crim R 159 R v McNaughton (2006) 66 NSWLR 566; [2006] NSWCCA 242 R v Nightingale [2005] NSWCCA 147 R v Obbens [2022] NSWCCA 109 R v Spiers [2008] NSWCCA 107 R v Todd [1982] NSWLR 517 Ryan v The Queen (2001) 206 CLR 267; [2001] HCA 21 The Queen v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270; [1999] HCA 54 Wakefield v R [2010] NSWCCA 12 Wu v R [2011] NSWCCA 102; 211 A Crim R 88 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Desmond Richards (Applicant) Rex (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: P F Tehan KC / P Skinner (Applicant) E Wilkins SC (Respondent)