A 70-year-old Christian pastor will spend more time in prison after the ACT Court of Appeal found his sentence for sexually assaulting his son was "manifestly inadequate".
The man, known by pseudonym 'Irving Ware', pleaded guilty to two counts of conducting an act of indecency on a person less than 16 years of age and maintaining a relationship with a young person in July 2021.
At the time, Justice John Burns sentenced him to three years and two months in jail with a non-parole period of 20 months.
But a successful appeal last week saw that time increased to four years and 10 months.
The prosecution appealed the initial sentencing on the basis that it was "manifestly inadequate", arguing that Ware should have been sentenced to more time in prison for his actions.
In their submissions, prosecutors said the maximum sentence for the charge of maintaining a sexual relationship with a young person was 25 years.
Three judges upheld the appeal, finding that the perpetrator was the "victims' biological father and used his position to exercise control over the victim, taking advantage of the victim's love and trust".
They also found that the offending occurred in the victim's home, a place that was supposed to be safe.
Court documents showed the family moved around Australia during Ware's ministry, before coming to Canberra in 1996.
During the four years the family lived in the ACT, Ware assaulted the victim, who was then aged between 11 and 15.
Those documents said the victim remembered two key incidents. One occurred while the victim was in year six at primary school, the other when the victim was in grade 7 in high school.
He also remembered repeated moments of assault, that typically took place on a Saturday morning.
Ware will remain in prison with an extended non-parole period of two years and six months.
