R v Hodson [2024] NSWCCA 238

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: R v Hodson [2024] NSWCCA 238 Hearing dates: 20 November 2024 Date of orders: 18 December 2024 Decision date: 18 December 2024 Before: Mitchelmore JA at [1]; Fagan J at [78]; Dhanji J at [83] Decision: (1) Appeal allowed. (2) Quash the sentence imposed by David DCJ on 7 June 2024 and in lieu thereof sentence the respondent to a term of imprisonment of 12 years commencing on 21 March 2023 and expiring on 20 March 2035 with a non-parole period of 8 years and 6 months commencing on 21 March 2023 and expiring on 20 September 2031. The respondent will be eligible for parole on 20 September 2031. Catchwords: CRIME — appeal against sentence — manifest inadequacy — where offender convicted of 12 counts of child sex offences which occurred over a period of 15 years against four child victims — where the offending involved a significant age disparity, skin-on-skin contact with the genitals, sexual intercourse, planning, use of a position of trust, persistence, and escalation in seriousness over time — where the offender's subjective case focused on his good character, experience in custody, and mental health history — whether the indicative sentences and non-parole periods failed to reflect the objective seriousness of the offending CRIME — appeal against sentence — residual discretion — relevance of the offender's experiences in custody — whether maintenance of public confidence in the administration of justice required re-sentencing Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 3A, 21A(2)(k), 21A(2)(n), 21A(5A), 25AA, 54A Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), ss 61M(2), 66A, 66C(1), 66D Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), s 5D Cases Cited: Cahyadi v R [2007] NSWCCA 1; (2007) 168 A Crim R 41 CMB v Attorney-General (NSW) (2015) 256 CLR 346; [2015] HCA 9 Dinsdale v The Queen (2000) 202 CLR 321; [2000] HCA 54 Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) v De La Rosa (2010) 79 NSWLR 1; [2010] NSWCCA 194 EG v R [2015] NSWCCA 21 Green v The Queen; Quinn v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 462; [2011] HCA 49 Griffiths v The Queen (1977) 137 CLR 293; [1977] HCA 44 Hili v The Queen; Jones v The Queen (2010) 242 CLR 520; [2010] HCA 45 JM v R [2014] NSWCCA 297; (2014) 246 A Crim R 528 Lowndes v The Queen (1999) 195 CLR 665; [1999] HCA 29 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 Maxwell v R [2020] NSWCCA 94 PC v R (2022) 108 NSWLR 181; [2022] NSWCCA 107 R v BJW [2000] NSWCCA 60; (2000) 112 A Crim R 1 R v Hill [2020] NSWCCA 197 R v Kennedy [2000] NSWCCA 527 R v VR [2024] NSWCCA 91 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Rex (Appellant) Timothy Hodson (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: A Bonnor (Appellant) D Carroll / P McManus (Respondent)