RE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S REFERENCE (NO. 53 OF 2013) sub nom R v NEIL WILSON (2013)
The purpose of the legislation making it a crime punishable with imprisonment to have sexual relations with those under 16 years was to protect those under 16. A reduction of punishment on the basis that the victim encouraged the commission of the offence was wrong. The victim’s vulnerability was an aggravating rather than a mitigating feature.