LM, a football coach, was convicted of sexual offences involving a young player, LW, and a member of a paedophile hunter group posing as a child.

The trial judge considered LW’s apparent consent as a mitigating factor, but the Crown argued that this underestimated the gravity of the offences. LM also committed further crimes while on bail, which was not fully accounted for in his sentencing.

The appeal court found the trial judge’s approach flawed, particularly in how it treated LM’s behaviour towards LW. The court noted LM’s position of trust and his ongoing offending while on bail. The original sentence was quashed, and a 12-year extended sentence was imposed, consisting of 9 years’ custody and 3 years’