The accused pleaded guilty to multiple counts of gross indecency involving seven child victims between 1980 and 1985.
The offences involved fondling of the victims' genitals in various contexts, including overnight stays, car rides, camping trips, and at a public swimming pool.
The accused had prior convictions for similar offences in 1990 and had undergone extensive psychiatric treatment and counselling over the intervening 22 years without reoffending.
The Crown sought a custodial sentence of two years less one day, while the defence sought a conditional sentence.
The court imposed a conditional sentence of two years less one day, finding that the unique circumstances of the case, including the accused's genuine remorse, low risk of reoffence, and successful rehabilitation over decades, warranted a departure from the typical custodial approach in child sexual abuse cases.
