Stuart Hall: A Very Tricky Sentencing Exercise.

I was involved in many sentencings for both serious and minor offences over a period of about ten years as a magistrate and later chairman.
Admittedly, although many were quite serious cases - in a lower court, none could match the seriousness of the offences committed by Hall.
Even so, it is difficult to see how one may effectively sentence an 83 year old for historical offences.
Clearly, imprisonment must be imposed as anything less would bring the law into disrepute.
Certainly, for a younger man, I would have wanted a 15 year sentence for his abuses by a Crown Court.
How could you give such a disposal, which would probably mean him serving in excess of eight years, thus taking him comfortably into his nineties?
That he is no longer a danger to young girls is definitely a factor but you cannot give too much leeway when he has simply avoided detection for so long.

I would probably want to impose a six year term knowing that he would probably only serve half.
Mercy must not be the only base in sentencing: righteousness, deterrence, a mark of social disapproval and justice must all be part of the thinking.