TeaCider
Well-known member
Your link literally says:
“The guidance gives more detail on how the assessment of a young person's maturity has a bearing on culpability, and gives more clarity on how the impact on victims is to be taken in account.
It suggests factors common to many young people who commit offences, such as childhood trauma, should be considered.
But it makes it clear that the full range of sentencing options will remain open to courts when sentencing a young person.”
I'm aware what it says.
Without that guideline, a child rapist would not have had community service considered as acceptable justice for what he did just because he was under 25.
You could say it's down to the judge in question making the decision, but it's still a consequence of the guideline.