If you’ve been accused of rape, the consequences can be devastating not only for you but for those immediately around you, including friends and family. These allegations need to be handled in a sensitive way but also as fast as possible, which is exactly what our sexual offence solicitor can provide.
Here at ABV Solicitors, we want disruptions to your life and the lives of those around you to be kept at a minimum. With the aim of defending you to the best of our ability, rest assured that we have your most favourable outcome at heart.
What is included in a rape accusation?
A rape accusation can range from sexual assault to sexual activity with a child, though there is more knowledge required for each of those segments. For this article, our sexual offence solicitor will focus on rape as a whole to hopefully answer all of your questions.
Once the accusation of rape has been made, an arrest will soon follow. If you aren’t arrested, you might be invited to an interview instead; this isn’t the end of your story, however, and there is still plenty we can do to clear your name.
While under arrest, you will have your initial interview where the outline and details of the accusation will be laid out in front of you. Any evidence, including images, videos, DNA or CCTV may also be brought out during this interview. You will be asked to provide an account of your whereabouts during the time of the accusation; at this stage, it is critical that you get legal advice from our sexual offence solicitor.
From here, there may be a variety of directions your case could continue on. You could be released while the police continue their investigation, you or those around you might be invited to secondary interviews and, once a decision is made, you will likely be arrested again, and the steps to pre-trial and trial will begin.
What are the consequences of the accusation?
Rape is a very serious offence, and the consequence is just as serious; this is why false allegations can be so damaging, and we understand that. The maximum sentence for rape is life imprisonment, for sexual assault of varying themes, the sentence is around 10 years, and for accusations regarding children, there is no set answer. This is due to there being different acts that are being broken.
How we can help
So, you’ve been arrested, and you don’t know how to get help? Don’t worry. You can ask for a solicitor at the custody desk, and we will be with you as soon as possible, ready with a plan of action and any advice you need. It is important that you do not try to contact the complainant. If this is someone previously close to you, we understand there may be a belief that you can sort it out between yourselves, but this will only make the situation worse. In this most stressful time, you should try to think like a solicitor. If someone you know has been arrested due to rape accusations, get in contact with us as soon as possible so that we can contact the police.
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