Need legal advice now from a sexual offence solicitor?
- Unlimited time to discuss your sexual offence accusation with an experienced criminal law solicitor
- An outline of your legal position in your sexual offence case
- A clear fee-quote and time frame to for your case
Commonly asked questions on sexual offence crimes.
Sexual offences are one of the most severe offences under criminal law. Therefore, it’s important to understand precisely what sexual offences are and the potential punishments for these types of crimes. As a result, our criminal defence solicitors have answered some of the most commonly asked questions surrounding this topic.
1. What is a sexual offence?
Sexual offence is an umbrella term that involves sexual intercourse or any other sexual act. The examples of offences that come under this category include:
- Rape.
- Indecent images.
- Sexual assault.
Being convicted of a sexual offence will most likely result in you being put onto the sex offenders register.
2. What are the punishments for sexual offences?
There are various punishments for sexual offences, which depend on the severity of the crime. The most common types of penalties often include:
| Nature of activity | Severity of the charge | Sentence (starting point) |
| Rape |
Category (1) Category (2) Category (3) |
(1) Custodial sentence (starting point 15 years) (2) Custodial sentence (starting point 10 years) (3) Custodial sentence (starting point 7 years) |
| Sexual Assault |
Category (1) Category (2) Category (3)
|
(1) Custodial sentence (starting point 4 years) (2) Custodial sentence (starting point 2 years) (3) Custodial sentence (starting point 26 weeks) |
| Indecent Images |
Category (1) Category (2) Category (3) |
(1) Custodial sentence (starting point 1 years) (2) Custodial sentence (starting point 26 weeks) (3) High level community order |
3. What will the court consider when sentencing?
The information that the courts are given with regards to sentencing is only loose guidelines. Every case will be looked at on an individual basis.
Typically, the following factors are used by the court when determining punishments:
- Your previous conviction(s)
- Your level of remorse
- Whether you have any severe medical conditions that require long term, urgent or intensive treatment
- Whether you have a learning disability or a mental disorder
- The age of the person involved and whether they are a vulnerable person
To contact our sexual offence solicitors, please call us on 020 3007 5500.
4. Why should you use a solicitor for sexual offences?
Sexual offence cases can become very technical. Even when you are innocent, it is always advised to seek legal advice as these types of offences can result in you receiving long custodial sentences.
Please note, it is essential to act quickly when facing a sexual offence charge. A solicitor can help prevent you from incriminating early on by assisting you with police interview questions and by finding discrepancies within the quality of the evidence submitted.
By instructing a criminal solicitor who specialises in sexual offence defence, it will ensure you have:
- Police station representation
- The best possible defence for your case.
- A professional with experience in dealing with criminal defence cases.
- An understanding of your standpoint and available options.
- The knowledge to reduce potentially damaging impacts on your future.
To contact our sexual offence solicitors, please call us on 020 3007 5500.
5. Do you offer legal aid for sexual offence matters?
We cannot offer legal aid in any capacity as we lack the necessary legal aid certificate. We also don’t provide pro bono work at present.
Need legal advice now from a sexual offence solicitor in London or Brighton?
Tell us about your sexual offence case and we’ll get back to you the same day.
Meet our criminal solicitors in London and Brighton.
Paul Britton
Managing Director
Joseph Navas
Director & Solicitor
Patrick Murray
Criminal Solicitor
Alex Grist
Trainee Criminal Solicitor
Why Britton and Time Solicitors?
Criminal law is our speciality. Our criminal solicitors have worked on many sexual offence cases, which have given our solicitors an abundance of knowledge and experience in this area of law. When it comes to your specific sexual offence case, we’ll always guarantee:
Award-Winning Service.
You are our priority, and the law is our speciality. Our award-winning sexual offence solicitors in London and Brighton ensure you know exactly where you stand from a legal perspective so you can make a well-informed decision.
Full Billing Transparency.
No fee surprises. Ever. Our sexual offence solicitors will inform you from the outset on how much your case will cost, and we will do everything in our power to keep costs down and within your original fee estimate.
Regular Communication.
With fortnightly updates on your case, you’ll never be left in the dark. Our sexual offence solicitors in London and Brighton ensure you know exactly how your case is progressing and are with you every step of the way.
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There are three things that make Britton & Time, and in particular Paul, stand apart from other law firms: knowledge, communication and a will to win.
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Other sexual offences.
Assault By Penetration
Indecent Images
Outraging Public Decency
Rape
Sexual Assault
Sexual Communication With A Child
Sexual Harm Prevention Order
Other sexual offences.
Assault By Penetration
Indecent Images
Outraging Public Decency
Rape
Sexual Assault
Sexual Communication With A Child
Sexual Harm Prevention Order
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